Dutch government extends mandatory mattress recycling rules to 2031
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Minister Van Veldhoven of the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth has mandated that all companies selling mattresses in the Netherlands must follow new recycling agreements until 2031.
This decision extends and strengthens a system where manufacturers collectively fund and organize the collection and processing of old mattresses. The agreement aims to recover valuable materials like steel, foam, and textiles.
Specialized recycling companies dismantle the mattresses to separate these components, allowing steel to be reused and foam to be processed into insulation or chemical raw materials. This process reduces the need for new raw materials. The new rules increase collection targets and expand the scope of the program. The mattress industry plans to increase the number of collection points from 386 to at least 700.
Starting in 2026, the rules will also include commercial mattresses from hotels, hospitals, and holiday parks, which were previously excluded. Smaller producers that were once exempt must also now contribute to the costs. Manufacturers pay a contribution for every mattress they bring to the Dutch market to the Stichting Matras Recycling Nederland (MRN). This fund covers the costs of the entire recycling chain. The ministry's decision ensures that these ambitious targets remain legally binding for the next five years.
