Old mattresses are one of those things we try not to think about. They're bulky, awkward to move and far too easy to send straight to landfill. Each year in Australia, around 1.8 million mattresses are disposed of, with roughly 740,000 ending up in landfill, where they can take up to 120 years to break down. That is a long legacy for something designed to help us sleep better.

Thankfully, there's a much better option, and it's already making a big impact in Western Australia.

A Win for Circular Economy Action

Soft Landing Mattress Recycling Perth has been awarded the 2025 WasteSorted Closing the Loop Award, recognising its leadership in building a stronger circular economy. The award highlights organisations that are finding practical ways to reduce waste while keeping valuable materials in use.

For the Soft Landing team, this recognition reflects years of consistent, hands on work. Over the past five years, Soft Landing Perth has recycled more than 500,000 mattresses and 30,000 white goods, diverting over 13,000 tonnes of waste from landfill. Their material recovery rate sits at around 70 per cent, well above industry averages.

Why Manual Recycling Makes a Difference

Unlike many recycling operations, Soft Landing dismantles mattresses by hand rather than shredding them mechanically. It might take more time, but it delivers far better results.

Manual deconstruction allows materials to be separated cleanly and efficiently. Steel springs are recycled into new steel products, timber is mulched or reused, and foam is repurposed into items such as carpet underlay. This approach improves material quality while also reducing energy use.

In 2024, Soft Landing Perth expanded into a larger Wangara facility, doubling its recycling capacity. The team has also begun diverting textile residual waste to energy, bringing them closer to their goal of 100 per cent landfill diversion.

Recycling That Puts People First

Soft Landing is not just focused on waste. As a registered charity and not for profit social enterprise, its work creates meaningful employment for people who experience barriers to work.

Across Australia, Soft Landing provides jobs for people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal people, refugees, and those facing long term unemployment. Most of the organisation’s revenue, about 65%, goes directly to wages, supporting local communities and helping people build stability and confidence through work.This people centred model shows that environmental progress and social impact do not have to be separate goals. They can, and should, work together.

Why Mattress Recycling Really Matters

Recycling mattresses keeps valuable materials like steel, foam and timber in circulation, reducing the need for new resource extraction and saving energy. It also helps councils and retailers meet landfill diversion targets while offering households an affordable, responsible disposal option. Soft Landing makes recycling even easier by offering multiple pick-up and drop-off locations across Australia, so no matter where you are, you can ensure your old mattresses have a second life

When recycling is made easy, fewer mattresses end up abandoned on streets, in waterways or buried in landfill.

A Softer Landing for the Future

Soft Landing Perth’s award win is a reminder that real sustainability happens when systems are designed with care. With the right approach, even our biggest waste challenges can become opportunities for positive change.

It's proof that when we choose better solutions, waste can have a second life and communities can thrive alongside the planet.

Thanks for tuning in again this week, GFZ's. Ready for another Feel Good story? Check out our blog here about how NSW is taking a big step towards a low waste future with the new Plastic Plan. 

With Love, 
Ellie xoxo