COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 14, 2020

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor R. McMahon

To ask the Chief Executive to give a report on the recent Mattress Amnesty to include the number of mattresses collected and the cost of the Initiative.

REPLY:

Following from the success of SDCC mattress amnesty days held in 2018 and 2019, the 2020 mattress amnesty required operational changes to take into account essential social distancing restrictions imposed due to Covid 19.  The operational changes also aimed to improve accessibility for the public to avail of the service. For the 2020 Mattress Amnesty, SDCC teamed up with Clondalkin Community Recycle Initiative (RecycleIT), a social enterprise, based in Crag Avenue, Clondalkin, which provides employment and training opportunities through the provision of neighbourhood, community and business WEEE collection services. The mattress amnesty was held over a 4-week period, starting on the 19th October 2020, allowing unwanted mattresses from residents of South Dublin to be disposed of safely, free of charge. The timing of the event was aimed at reducing the number of mattresses that are illegally disposed of, through burning at Halloween bonfires or dumped illegally in our precious countryside. 

The 2020 mattress amnesty was a pilot project, which utilised the existing expertise and resources from RecycleIT’s WEEE collection service. The pilot project provided multiple opportunities for members of the public to dispose of their mattress at localised community collection points as well as the RecycleIT Facility in Crag Avenue. Collection days were organised with the assistance of resident associations, staff in community centres and other local community groups. By having multiple opportunities for disposal of mattresses, we were able to provide drop off opportunities to each resident of South Dublin within a distance of 5km of their front door, whilst regulating the attendance to ensure all social distancing measures were adhered to. All of the mattresses collected at the various drop off points were transported by RecycleIT to EcoMattress, another social enterprise, based in Fingal, specialising mattresses recycling. 

A total 1,065 mattresses were recovered as part of the 2020 amnesty, a 25% increase on the previous year. The total cost of the 2020 mattress amnesty was €30,400. Compared to 2019 figures, the cost of disposal per item has been reduced 15%, with the added benefit of making the service more accessible to the community. Feedback from all parties involved has been very positive. South Dublin County Council Waste Enforcement Section is looking at other opportunities to work with RecycleIT and other Social Enterprises in providing other recycling opportunities in the community.