Everyone has a destination upon leaving school—an end goal before your next chapter in life—and I discovered mine during my time at Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc.

I vaguely recall stumbling upon CMRI’s job posting for a technical writer position during a turbulent period of sleepless nights and incessant worry and doubt, which is to say, during my job search last year. I remember all the misconceptions I had about technical writing at the time, which tempted me to scroll past the job posting.

Prior to discovering the job posting, I had done some surface-level research on technical writing to see if it was for me. After my research, I thought to myself, do I really want to spend the next few decades of my life writing manuals no one will ever read, and learning complex things so that I’m qualified to write manuals about those complex things? No, I decided, and that was that. Definitely not for me.

The problem, however, was that the longer I stared at the technical writer job posting, the more I thought, maybe? You see, I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember: it’s actually one of, if not the only thing that I can confidently say I’m at least competent at.

Realizing this, I decided to take a chance and apply for the position, and it was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My co-op work term at CMRI was as enjoyable as it was educational.

I was tasked with creating user manuals for the warehouse operations, which would serve as useful training materials for new employees learning how to perform the procedures and operate the machinery.

Throughout my work term, I learned that technical writing is a multifaceted occupation that requires creativity when designing technical documents, as well as critical thinking skills when figuring out how to format documents, what information to include, how to make that information crystal clear, and so on. Essentially, I learned that technical writing is a far cry from the mundane and monotonous occupation I had imagined it to be.

In addition to this experience convincing me to pursue a career in technical writing, it made me feel like I was doing something meaningful.

CMRI is a company that goes above and beyond to make Canada greener. Besides the millions of pounds of mattresses and furniture that they’ve recycled and kept out of landfills, CMRI also supports communities and charities through generous donations, as well as schools and animal shelters by donating useful materials.

The efforts CMRI makes to achieve sustainability and support communities make me genuinely proud to work here. My time at the company has also provided me with valuable work experience that will aid me when I finish school and step out into the “real world.”

To say that I’ve learned a lot about technical writing is an understatement, and to say it is an understatement is an understatement within itself. What I mean is that I went from knowing nothing about technical writing to knowing everything (that you would expect a junior technical writer to know).

The most important thing I’d like to convey to you, however, is just how much CMRI has done for me and why I will forever be grateful to them: they helped me find my career path, my destination. I realize that I briefly mentioned this a few paragraphs above, but I feel that I merely brushed past this point and should probably do a better job to emphasize it, because it really is a fairly important point now that I think about it.

Now finishing my second work term with CMRI, I’ve been reflecting on my time here and—in truth—I could not have asked for a better opportunity. Everyone at the company has been wonderful and immensely helpful (and patient, for being able to endure my unrelenting barrage of questions I direct at them on a regular basis).

After completing my second work term, I will be returning to school to pursue my major in Communication and minor in English, and after that, hopefully beginning my long and prosperous career as a Technical Writer.

Words by: Liam Basi

In 1992, around 1,700 of the world’s leading scientists signed a document titled, “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity,” which declared a climate emergency that, if ignored, would result in suffering and destruction on a worldwide scale. Three decades later, we are seemingly none the wiser, as global greenhouse gas emissions have risen by a staggering 40%.

One of the biggest contributors to this rise in greenhouse gas emissions is textile waste, which simply refers to textiles and fabric waste —particularly clothing—that is dumped in landfills or incinerated. Although there are many industries that produce high volumes of textile waste, the fashion industry is the biggest culprit. The sheer amount of clothes created every year is unsustainable, and the situation is only worsened by the societal norm of throwing away old clothes rather than giving them away or recycling them.

At Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc., we are determined to help Canada meet its recycling and sustainability goals. Besides deconstructing mattresses and furniture, we also keep textiles out of landfills by finding ways for the textiles we salvage to be re-used. Recently, we have started to give away furniture cushion covers and polyester filling from the furniture we process to teachers, who use them to create comfy floor seating for their students.  We also donate covers to local animal shelters (unstuffed to be used as blanket-substitutes and stuffed ones as pet beds). As a part of our goal to help Canadians live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, we believe it is our duty to inform others on not just about how to reduce your textile waste, but why you should reduce your textile waste:

1. Limiting textile waste combats climate change

Clothing and footwear are responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this is largely due to fast fashion. Fast fashion, the current norm of the fashion industry, is the process of producing high volumes of trendy and inexpensive clothes. Since these clothes are made with cheap materials, their lifespans are significantly reduced, resulting in a cycle of people regularly buying and throwing out clothes. The fashion industry’s emphasis on trendy clothing also leads to clothes being thrown out prematurely because, as we know, there is little worse in life than wearing corduroys that were fashionable in 2022 and have now (2023, as of the publication of this post) gone out of fashion.

According to a recent study, only 1% of clothes are recycled, however, this isn’t solely due to people not wanting to do so: many clothes are hard to recycle because they are not made with it in mind. Until recycling technology advances—or until more companies start making clothes that are recyclable—recycling alone will not dramatically reduce global textile waste.

In order to lower textile waste and thus help combat climate change, other avenues of limiting textile waste must receive attention in addition to recycling, such as donating and upcycling clothes. Upcycling is the process of transforming unwanted or defunct items to make them functional or more appealing. Giving away clothes rather than discarding them is a minor inconvenience at most, which brings us to our next point:

2. Reducing textile waste is easy

You may already know that textile waste is a major problem, and you may already know how to limit it. Despite knowing these things, you may do nothing to reduce your textile waste, and that isn’t anything to feel guilty about—everyone has a lot of progress to make if they want to lead eco-friendly lives (unless you’re one of those rare individuals who leads a zero waste lifestyle, in which case, good on you!). Perhaps one of the main reasons why you should reduce your textile waste is simply because it’s easy to. No, really.

Whether it’s giving away clothes that no longer fit you to younger relatives or holding a garage sale, there are so many easy ways to get rid of your unwanted clothes without contributing to the waste stream. You could always bag up and donate your clothes to places that would happily take them from you, such as Value Village, thrift stores, and shelters, or give them away for free online.

A yard sale with clothes, among other items, on display.

3. Being eco-friendly makes you happier

Another reason why you should reduce the amount of textile waste you produce is because numerous studies have found that there is a correlation between happiness and sustainable living. These studies have concluded that individuals who care about the environment and engage in eco-friendly behaviour tend to be happier than those who do not. One explanation for this conclusion is that many individuals find eco-friendly behaviour—even something as minor as turning off the lights after leaving a room—meaningful, and that being eco-friendly makes individuals feel good about themselves as a result.

You may be reluctant to lead an eco-friendlier life, and understandably so—making major changes to your lifestyle can be scary. It is important to note, however, that being eco-friendly doesn’t mean you have to start growing all your own vegetables and get rid of clothes only once they look as if caterpillars have mistaken them for leaves (although, if you do grow all your own vegetables and wear clothes riddled in holes, that’s perfectly fine). You can be eco-friendlier by starting with something easy and small, like recycling and donating things you no longer need.

The most important thing to take away from this point is that the irrefutable link between happiness and sustainability disproves the notion that being eco-friendly means sacrificing one’s happiness. So, if you’re still on the fence about, say, giving away your unwanted clothes rather than just tossing them in the bin, just do what will make you happier. Which is giving them away.

4. Your bank account will thank you

If you still aren’t convinced about limiting your textile waste, we should point out that it would save you a considerable amount of money in the long-term. While we have mentioned a few ways of getting rid of clothes that don’t involve sending them to a landfill, perhaps the best way to reduce your textile waste is by not accumulating large (i.e., unnecessary) quantities of textiles in the first place.

Look in your closet and be honest: how many of your clothes do you really wear? According to a UK survey, the average British adult has nearly $300 worth of clothes in their closet that they’ve never worn. This startling data goes to show that we have a consumption problem, and it likely won’t come as a surprise that fast fashion is at the root of this issue.

Simply put, avoiding fast fashion clothing will result in both a more environmentally and financially sustainable life. Instead of buying suspiciously cheap clothing that you know won’t last long, invest in slightly more expensive clothing that will last you years. It may seem contradictory to spend more money to save money, but you will certainly save more money by buying better-made clothes designed to last rather than cheaply-made clothes designed to make you buy more clothes shortly after.

5. You will create safer environments for people and animals

Some researchers believe that landfills may pose health risks to those who work at them, as well as people and animals that live near them; therefore, reducing your textile waste will create safer environments for families and help preserve ecosystems.

One study suggests that there is an increased chance of children developing congenital malformations (aka birth defects) if their families live near landfills. Pollution, odor, and water contamination are just a few other hazards caused by landfills that the study mentions. With all the potential health issues that come with living in proximity to landfills, it would hardly come as a surprise if you were against the idea of living near one, although for all you know, you could be living near one. About one in six citizens of the United States live within three miles of toxic waste sites, and as Canada has its fair share of waste sites as well, you could be living near one without even knowing it.

Landfills of course negatively impact all of us, as well as animals and the planet, but that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done to lessen their harmful effect. With textiles occupying a significant portion of landfills, limiting your textile waste would help to reduce landfill use and their impact, and this vole would certainly be thankful.

Textile waste is a colossal waste train chugging along, and with factors such as the fashion industry only adding fuel to the fire, it won’t be losing steam anytime soon. If you would like to make a meaningful difference, we would strongly encourage you to try to reduce the amount of textile waste you produce: even something as simple as donating your unwanted clothing would make all the difference.

A cute water vole.

In cities across Canada, it is becoming more common for residents to have the option of recycling their old mattresses. Mattresses can be difficult to take apart or dismantle by the resident themselves, so facilities have sprung up across the country to provide mattress recycling services. 

In Vancouver, a local recycler Canadian Mattress Recycling dismantles and recycles mattresses, box springs, and bed frames received by residents and commercial businesses. Their facility achieves a recycling rate close to 100%, so they divert almost the old items they receive from local landfills. 

So now that you know you can recycle mattresses, the next question is: how do I do it? 

1. Preparation Makes a Big Difference

Preparation makes a big difference. Recycling facilities may reject mattresses that are too wet, mouldy, have pests, or excessive human excrement. Therefore, your best chance at recycling a mattress starts by taking good care of your bed when you use it. Keeping a mattress in good condition keeps your end-of-use disposal options open. Then, when it’s time to recycle, it becomes a simple matter of deciding what recycling service you need, as opposed to worrying about whether or not you can recycle it.

2. Understand what mattress recycling services are available

Mattress recyclers often provide two kinds of services: drop-off recycling and recycling pickups. Drop-off recycling is popular with those who can transport their old mattress to the back of their truck and haul it to the recycling facility. In comparison, recycling pickups allow residents to have removers come to their residence to haul their beds away. 

Besides asking yourself if you have the means to drop off your mattress yourself, also consider whether it is worth the drive. Not only that, but hours at recycling facilities may also vary. For example, Canadian Mattress Recycling closes its facility at 4:45 pm every day. If you work past that time or need to travel longer distances, will you encounter hassles like traffic that make you miss the last load times?

That’s why recycling pickups are popular amongst many residents in Metro Vancouver. Canadian Mattress Recycling’s pickup service hauls away residents’ old beds and ensures they’re recycled. Residents do not have to be at home during the pickup, as long as the mattress is easily accessible by the pickup crew.

3. Recycle your mattresses

Once you’ve considered your options, it’s time to pick a service and recycle your mattresses. For drop-offs, advanced booking may not be needed for some recycling facilities. In fact, at Canadian Mattress Recycling, residents can drop off their mattresses with no need to book a slot. You just have to know how much your item will cost to recycle, bring the cash, and off-load the mattress at the loading bays. Commercial loads of 10+ mattresses need reservations, however, to ensure adequate staff are in attendance to process the mattresses timely and efficiently. Alternatively, pickups must be booked in advance for both residential and commercial services. 

Conclusion

We’re not going to lie – recycling can be a satisfying feeling. Waving your old bed goodbye and knowing it will be recycled can be even more satisfying. Instead of decomposing for over 80 years in a landfill, the materials in your mattress will be transformed into new materials for new products. Therefore, we hope this guide helps your mattress recycling efforts by showing you how to prepare a mattress for recycling, understanding what services are available, and how to exactly recycle a mattress. 

In Metro Vancouver, about 10,500 tons of styrofoam is disposed of in landfills each year. Until 2019, only 21% of those styrofoam is recycled. The staggering amount of styrofoam entering landfills as single-use items has prompted Metro Vancouver to ban the landfilling of them in 2018. Last year, a surcharge was placed on all styrofoam loads taken to transfer stations, encouraging businesses and residents to find a sustainable alternative to styrofoam disposal.

The Next Step: Styrofoam Recycling

Styrofoam recycling quickly became the appealing alternative for Metro Vancouver residents and businesses. Many started dropping off styrofoam (EPS) at recycling depots, who receive these items free of charge. And yet, misconceptions around styrofoam recycling are still increasing recycling contamination rates. In fact, styrofoam is commonly tossed away with recyclables at home, which is wrong. Styrofoam containers can’t be placed in blue bins at home and taken out with regular garbage. Instead, styrofoam can be taken to the following places for recycling: 

• London Drugs
• Return-It Depot on Powell Street
• Growing City
• Go-Green Bottle Depot and Recycling
• North Shore Bottle Depot

You may be wondering – what makes styrofoam different?

Styrofoam – Expanded Polystyrene

Commonly used by businesses, styrofoam is a durable and light-weighted material chosen often because of its ability to insulate and protect packaging during shipments. Styrofoam we know of takes form this way, but also as the take-out containers you regularly see at restaurants and food courts. But they have used styrofoam for many other industries in BC, such as the film industry. The film industry often uses styrofoam to create stage props, which are discarded in landfills once used. One thing about styrofoam is certain – it’s made prolific for being a cheaper alternative to other insulation, packaging, or prop-making material.

Challenges of Recycling Styrofoam

In the past, landfills have always been the dumping ground of styrofoam. Styrofoam would take decades to decompose. Now, styrofoam is recycled, but with recycling comes new challenges. Food and oil can contaminate styrofoam, making them very difficult to clean and recycle. Styrofoam parts may also break off, leaving microplastics that are lost. Finally, rules around recycling styrofoam can confuse residents and businesses, who rarely have the time to memorize recycling processes for all materials they encounter.

Challenge #1: Confusing rules around styrofoam recycling

Old habits die hard – and that’s the case with styrofoam recycling. But it’s much more complex than that. In fact, the average resident may be bombarded with many recycling practices for all the items they have at home. Finding the right recycler can be time-consuming and exhausting. To complicate matters, recycling policies can differ city to city. In Metro Vancouver, styrofoam does not belong in the blue recycling bins. Instead, you must take it to a depot that accepts the material. But if you have never been exposed to these practices, it can get very confusing very fast.

Challenge #2: Food and grease contamination

Grease-covered styrofoam containers cannot be recycled effectively. Unlike other food container materials such as cardboard, food and grease seep into the styrofoam pores, making it difficult for recycling. Rinsing the styrofoam out is one option, but it may not be effective. While food-soiled cardboard boxes (such as pizza boxes) can be dumped in your organics bin, the same cannot be said for food-soiled styrofoam containers.

Challenge #3: Inaccessible recyclers

Even if you want to recycle styrofoam, do you even know where to begin? Do you even know where you should take them? Recycling depots that take styrofoam can be far and few in between, or those that accept styrofoam may have separate rules. Or, they may simply be too far out of reach — making styrofoam recycling inaccessible.

Reasons to Recycle Styrofoam

Although styrofoam recycling is a challenge, it is still worth recycling. Think of all the single-use styrofoam plates and cups thrown away daily. Think about the EPS sheets piling up in landfills by the truck. And now with the convenience of online shopping, styrofoam will continue to sneak into the packaging and into our waste streams.

Reason #1: Styrofoam is not biodegradable.

Reason #2: Styrofoam litter in public places is harmful for wildlife.

Reason #3: Styrofoam is lightweight and easily carried by wind or water.

Reason #4: Styrene, a chemical component of styrofoam, can seep into the food we store.

Alternatives to Styrofoam Use

In 2020, styrofoam use will dwindle across Metro Vancouver as they put new bans in place. Single-use styrofoam will quickly phase out as more sustainable food storage containers, insulation, and packaging material arrive on the market. There are already other alternatives too, that would reduce one’s environmental impact. Some restaurants have already shifted to biodegradable take-out containers, and others have encouraged patrons to bring their own containers for take-out. Companies are investing in sustainable packaging and reusing package materials.

What Else You Can Do

The easiest way to deal with waste is to not create it. It may not be possible for other items we use on a daily basis, but we can with styrofoam. We can all do our part in limiting our use of styrofoam since so much of it is single-use. Simply by packing a lunch box or a reusable bottle can limit the temptation of using styrofoam for take-out. Hosting parties and work functions with reusable utensils can be more sustainable than using single-use styrofoam items. Ship items using newsprint or cloth padding instead of styrofoam peanuts can also be helpful.

Canadian Mattress Recycling Inc. Since 2011, Canadian Mattress Recycling has recycled over 25 million pounds of mattresses and furniture at their recycling facility. Every day, commercial businesses and residents drop off their mattresses for recycling, or book a pickup for a crew to take their items away. As a company that cares about the community and the environment, you’ll see us blogging about recycling throughout the year. Want to read more, or want to stay in touch? Like us on Twitter and Facebook.