November 2013
A research project to understand the barriers to mattress re-use in the UK and to trial a range of cleaning techniques.
This project looked in depth at the options for organisations to take on more cleaning of second-hand mattresses with a view to stimulating higher levels of re-use.
It covered interviews with key stakeholders, trials and cost-benefit analysis.
Key outcomes are:
- There is potential for small-scale cleaning and re-use operations to be developed within existing furniture re-use organisations in the community sector.
- The economic benefit is marginal for increasing mattress cleaning in furniture re-use organisations. This is because the costs of equipment and chemicals are high, the outcome of cleaning makes little difference to re-sale, and the retail value of a second-hand mattress is low.
Re-covering of mattresses is not featured in this research.
To download the mattress report - please complete the form below.
Related links:
Report: Collection of non-clothing textiles
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