How Many Mattresses Does the UK Throw Away?
By Kaiser Khan, Editor Updated First published
Desk research from official sources. Not a product test or medical advice. How we check facts.
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In short
The UK throws away roughly 6 to 7 million mattresses a year. The National Bed Federation counted about 7.26 million in 2017 and quoted 6.4 million a year in 2024. In 2023, 56% were sent for recycling, but only 33% of the material was actually recovered. Most of the rest was burned or landfilled.
- Mattresses disposed of in the UK in 2017
- About 7.26 million
- Mattresses thrown away each year (NBF, January 2024)
- 6.4 million
- Mattresses landfilled or burned each year (NBF, August 2023)
- 4.75 million
- Share of mattresses sent for recycling in 2023
- 56%
- Share of mattress material actually recovered in 2023
- 33%
- Mattress disposals in 2023 than in 2020
- 27% fewer
National Bed Federation report by Oakdene Hollins, 2019. About 181,500 tonnes.
From Freedom of Information requests to 385 UK waste authorities.
Up from an estimated 25% in 2021. NBF fifth end-of-life report, October 2025.
Up from 14% in 2020.
The NBF says people may be keeping mattresses longer.
About 4 minutes to read
How it works
How many mattresses does the UK throw away each year?
About 6 to 7 million a year. That is the best answer the public figures allow.
The National Bed Federation (NBF) is the trade body for UK bed makers. It has measured mattress waste several times since 2014. Its figures move around because each study counts in a slightly different way.
Key figures
| Figure | What it measures | Year of data | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 7.26 million (181,500 tonnes) | Mattresses disposed of | 2017 | NBF report by Oakdene Hollins, 2019 |
| About 7 million | Mattresses thrown away a year | Rounded from 2017 | North London Waste Authority, 2022 |
| 4.75 million | Mattresses landfilled or burned a year | Stated in 2023 | NBF, via Circular Online |
| 6.4 million | Mattresses thrown away a year | Stated in January 2024 | NBF council survey |
| 56% | Mattresses sent for recycling | 2023 | NBF fifth report, 2025 |
| 33% | Mattress material actually recovered | 2023 | NBF fifth report, 2025 |
Where does the number come from?
The 7.26 million figure comes from a 2019 report. Environmental consultants Oakdene Hollins wrote it for the NBF. They studied published data and surveyed councils, makers, retailers and recyclers. They estimated 7.26 million mattresses, about 181,500 tonnes, were thrown away in 2017. That was 91% of the number of new mattresses sold that year.
The 6.4 million figure comes from a different method. In January 2024 the NBF said it had asked all 385 UK waste authorities for their records, using Freedom of Information requests. A waste authority is the council body that collects or handles household waste.
The 4.75 million figure is about where mattresses end up. In August 2023 the NBF said this many go to landfill or are burned each year.
What the number does not mean
- It is not an exact count. Nobody weighs every mattress. These are estimates built from council and industry records.
- Thrown away is not the same as wasted. Some of those mattresses are taken apart and recycled.
- Sent for recycling is not the same as recycled. In 2023, 56% of mattresses were sent for recycling. But only 33% of the material was recovered. Foam and fabric are hard to reuse, so some of it still ends up burned or in landfill.
- It does not include every mattress. Mattresses dumped illegally, or sold on second-hand, may not show up.
Is this the latest figure?
The newest report, published in October 2025, covers 2023. It does not give a new total number of mattresses. It says disposals fell by 27% compared with 2020. The NBF suggests people may be keeping mattresses longer, possibly because money is tight.
So the 6 to 7 million range may now be a little high. Until a new total is published, treat it as the best estimate. Check the date on any figure you see quoted.
Why the figures matter
Mattresses are bulky. A spring mattress mixes steel, foam and fabric that must be pulled apart by hand. That makes recycling slow and costly.
The 2016 NBF report found that in 2014 only about 16% of mattresses were recycled, with 73% landfilled. By 2023, more than half were sent for recycling. That is real progress, but a lot of material is still lost.
What can you do with an old mattress?
- Book a council bulky waste collection, or take it to your local recycling centre.
- Ask the shop selling your new mattress if it takes the old one away.
- Ask where the mattress goes. Some routes recycle it. Some do not.
- Never leave it by the bins or pay an unregistered collector.
Read our full guide to mattress disposal and recycling in the UK. For timing your delivery and collection, see mattress delivery and disposal. To keep a mattress going for longer, see when to replace a mattress.
Frequently asked questions
How many mattresses are thrown away in the UK each year?
Roughly 6 to 7 million. The National Bed Federation estimated 7.26 million in 2017 and quoted 6.4 million a year in January 2024. Its latest report says disposals in 2023 were 27% lower than in 2020.
How many mattresses go to landfill in the UK?
The National Bed Federation said in August 2023 that about 4.75 million mattresses a year end up in landfill or are burned. Recycling has grown since then, so this share is falling.
What percentage of mattresses are recycled in the UK?
In 2023, 56% of mattresses were sent for recycling, says the National Bed Federation. But only 33% of the material was actually recovered, because foam and fabric are hard to reuse.
Why do the mattress waste figures not match?
They cover different years and use different methods. The 2017 figure came from a full industry study. The 2024 figure came from council records. Treat any single number as an estimate, not an exact count.
Where does the 7 million mattresses figure come from?
From the National Bed Federation's 2019 end-of-life mattress report, written by Oakdene Hollins. It estimated that 7.26 million mattresses, about 181,500 tonnes, were disposed of in 2017.
How can I make sure my old mattress is recycled?
Ask your council or retailer what happens to the mattresses they collect. Some send them for recycling and some do not. Never fly-tip. Our mattress disposal guide lists the main UK routes.
Where do these facts come from?
BedGuide is desk research. The numbers and rules on this page were checked against the official or primary sources below. We name the check date. We do not invent a figure when a source is missing.
- National Bed Federation — 2019 end-of-life mattress report — Estimates 7.26 million mattresses (181,500 tonnes) disposed of in 2017 and a 19% recycling rate. Prepared by Oakdene Hollins for the NBF. Checked 2026-10-21.
- National Bed Federation — council recycling data, January 2024 — States 6.4 million mattresses are thrown away each year, based on Freedom of Information requests to the UK's 385 waste authorities. Checked 2026-10-21.
- National Bed Federation — fifth end-of-life mattress report, October 2025 — Reports 56% of mattresses sent for recycling in 2023, 33% of material recovered, and disposals 27% lower than in 2020. Checked 2026-10-21.
- Circular Online — NBF calls for consistent mattress recycling, August 2023 — Quotes the NBF saying 4.75 million mattresses a year end up in landfill or are incinerated in the UK. Checked 2026-10-21.
- North London Waste Authority — early mattress replacement, February 2022 — Uses the NBF figure of about 7 million mattresses a year and estimates 2.9 million reach an early end, from a 2022 Censuswide survey. Checked 2026-10-21.
- Let's Recycle — 2016 end-of-life mattress report — Reports the NBF's 2014 estimate: about 16% of mattresses recycled, 11% incinerated and 73% landfilled. Checked 2026-10-21.