DEQ mattress-recycling rule prompts operational questions for Crook County landfill

County staff briefed the commission on Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s mattress-recycling program set to take effect Jan. 1, which will require counties with populations over 10,000 to designate a permanent recycling facility for mattresses.

A county presenter said the fee model charges consumers $22.50 per unit at purchase; box springs and mattresses count as separate units. The recycling process will use 53-foot trailers to aggregate units; county staff must screen mattresses for contamination (wetness, mold, bedbugs), photograph non-recyclables and document loads. The presenter said recyclers assume about a 10% discard rate for trailers and that counties may invoice monthly for labor — but the county representative said details on reimbursement rates and the invoicing process remain unclear.

Staff discussed whether the landfill is the best local candidate because operation requires being staffed and open up to six days per week; commissioners and staff raised concerns about wet-weather handling, covered storage, staff time for documentation and potential need to add or reassign personnel. Staff said larger retailers (e.g., mattress sellers) are expected to handle many retailer-generated volumes, leaving most residential and local-business mattresses to the county.

County legal review and a formal agreement with DEQ were discussed as necessary next steps. Staff said they will follow up with DEQ for the agreement text and have legal review it before moving forward. No formal action was recorded during the work session.