Dunstable Launches Curbside Mattress Recycling Program with Nonprofit UTEC
UTEC, a violence intervention, reentry, and advocacy nonprofit in Massachusetts that helps offer justice-involved young adults the life-skills to prevent recidivism, will offer cost-accessible curbside mattress collection to Dunstable residents beginning on July 30, 2024, through a new partnership with the Town of Dunstable. Dunstable residents will have access to monthly mattress collection dates, which will take place on Tuesdays.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting: www.utecinc.org/mattress-recycling and selecting the “schedule service” option, and Dunstable from the dropdown menu or by calling 978-856-3997.
“UTEC is proud to announce our partnership with Dunstable, offering curbside mattress recycling to local residents,” said Gregg Croteau, CEO of UTEC. “With this partnership, not only is Dunstable doing something that benefits the environment and residents, it is providing local young adults with valuable workforce development skills.”
“The UTEC mattress recycling program is one of the preeminent examples of social enterprises in Massachusetts and I am very pleased to see that Dunstable residents will be able to participate in this program starting in July through convenient curbside pickup,” said Senator Edward J. Kennedy. “Not only does UTEC mattress recycling help preserve and protect our environment, it also provides many Massachusetts residents with a second chance in their working lives.”
“I am excited to see Dunstable partnering with UTEC on this initiative,” said Representative Margaret Scarsdale, “This program supports the professional development of young people, while also addressing environmental concerns, achieving two important goals with one effort. The curbside mattress recycling program is a meaningful step towards building a stronger community and contributing to a sustainable future.”
Since Massachusetts banned the disposal of mattresses in the trash in November 2022, UTEC’s unique program has helped residents safely dispose of and recycle thousands of mattresses across the region. UTEC’s team of young adults manually deconstruct and extract recyclable material from mattresses and box springs, with an average of 85% of the mattress being recycled. Young adults participate in deconstruction as well as unloading deliveries of mattresses, and develop valuable warehouse skills.
“We’re excited to offer this service to residents through our new partnership with UTEC, and do our part to help the environment,” said Joan Ferrari, Town of Dunstable. “UTEC’s curbside mattress pick-up is an easy and economical way to dispose of your mattress and help youths at risk at the same time.”
Social enterprise businesses have been proven to have a direct community impact. They give young adults a clean slate, as often as they need it, to gain work experience and develop essential job and life skills. Young adults working in the social enterprise business have obtained and sustained employment outside of UTEC, and it’s been proven that every dollar spent in a social enterprise creates $2.23 in social returns. In addition to the mattress recycling venture, UTEC also operates two additional social enterprise businesses: Madd Love Market’s Woodworking and Madd Love Meals.
UTEC is one of three organizations selected by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to be an approved mattress recycler. UTEC currently works with nearly 40 municipalities and has worked with over 20 schools and hotels, making it the largest mattress recycler in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
For more information about UTEC’s Mattress Recycling Social Enterprise, visit https://utecinc.org/mattress-recycling/