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Umatilla County reports 55 items collected at mattress recycling event; contractor delay led volunteers to unload
Summary
County staff reported 55 items (42 mattresses, 13 box springs) collected at an Aug. 23 Mattress Recycling Council collection event; a contractor breakdown required county volunteers to stack items for later pickup.
Umatilla County staff reported to commissioners on Sept. 3 that a mattress collection event held Aug. 23 collected 55 items: 42 mattresses and 13 box springs. The event, organized with the Mattress Recycling Council to implement Oregon's Mattress Stewardship Act (Senate Bill 1576), was open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and drew 26 vehicles.
Gina Miller, the county's Solid Waste Advisory Committee staff liaison, summarized survey results showing most participants were from Hermiston, Stanfield and Umatilla, with some attendees traveling from Milton-Freewater, Pendleton and Athena. Miller said the Mattress Recycling Council crew that was scheduled to handle removal and loading broke down in Bend and arrived late; as a result county volunteers and partners stacked materials on site for later loading and removal. Miller thanked county partners including Marty McClain for traffic control supplies, Sage DeLong for a mobile reader board, Kevin Bridal of Sanitary Disposal Inc. for refreshments and the fair office for facility use.
Commissioners asked whether futons and other items were accepted; Miller said the event followed DEQ and Mattress Recycling Council guidance and did not accept certain items (for example, baby mattresses and some futons are not covered by the program). Miller said she would follow up with the Mattress Recycling Council and the DEQ on any items the county may have accepted in error at the event.
Why it matters: The event implemented state-mandated mattress stewardship goals and achieved higher-than-expected participation, helping reduce illegal disposal and improve recycling compliance in the county.
