SleepWell March/April 2020

111
resses disposed of in Scotland
each year.
“We understand that less than
1% are being collected for recycling.
That represents a huge waste
of the materials and labour
that went into making those
mattresses in the first place, as
well as a lost opportunity to recover
valuable materials such as
steel and natural and synthetic
fibres that could be reprocessed
into new products and materials.
“Scotland’s vision for a circular
economy is one in which we shift
from being a throwaway society
to one which eliminates waste
entirely. Tackling the disposal of
hard-to-recycle items like mattresses
is a key priority for Zero
Waste Scotland as an organisation,
and for Scotland as a nation.
“Scotland has an opportunity to
support industry with mechanisms
like EPR, which look to cover
the real costs of responsible end
of life management and progress
a more circular economy. It
is great that the NBF and their
members are keen to pursue this
and see the opportunities and
benefits of this approach.”