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Recycling of Discarded Mattresses Through Extended Producer Responsibility: Is It More Cost-Effective than Incineration?

Author

Listed:
  • Bram Faber

    (School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam and Zaanstad Court of Audit, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Raymond Gradus

    (School of Business and Economics and Tinbergen Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

About half of the discarded mattresses in the Netherlands are recycled, and the other half are incinerated. Based on a recently implemented sustainability measure of extended producer responsibility, the recycling rate should increase to 75% in 2028. Thereby, a recycling fee of EUR 12.5 per mattress should be introduced to finance the infrastructure to increase recycling. This study investigates the potential cost-effectiveness of mattress recycling through the reuse of materials, compared to the incineration of mattresses in Dutch energy-to-waste plants. The benefits of recycling include the avoidance of CO 2 that would otherwise be released by incineration and the displacement of virgin material that would otherwise be used by producers as raw material. However, there are also significant costs associated with the collection and recycling process of complex products such as mattresses. Taking all factors into account, the cost of saving one ton of CO 2 through mattress recycling is EUR 138. This is higher than alternatives such as wind energy, ETS prices, or carbon capture and storage. If the replacement energy is fully CO 2 -neutral or the recycling fee is lower, the costs of one ton of CO 2 decrease but are still higher than most alternatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Bram Faber & Raymond Gradus, 2025. "Recycling of Discarded Mattresses Through Extended Producer Responsibility: Is It More Cost-Effective than Incineration?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5542-:d:1680128
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elbert Dijkgraaf & Raymond Gradus, 2021. "Are Bottle Banks Sufficiently Effective for Increasing Glass Recycling Rates?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    3. Dijkgraaf, Elbert & Vollebergh, Herman R.J., 2004. "Burn or bury? A social cost comparison of final waste disposal methods," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(3-4), pages 233-247, October.
    4. Vuori, Larissa & Ollikainen, Markku, 2022. "How to remove microplastics in wastewater? A cost-effectiveness analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    5. Kenneth Gillingham & James H. Stock, 2018. "The Cost of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 32(4), pages 53-72, Fall.
    6. Gradus, Raymond H.J.M. & Nillesen, Paul H.L. & Dijkgraaf, Elbert & van Koppen, Rick J., 2017. "A Cost-effectiveness Analysis for Incineration or Recycling of Dutch Household Plastic Waste," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 22-28.
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