When the first trailer loaded with 168 discarded mattresses rolled out of the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority (GLRA) site this April, it marked a meaningful step forward for Lebanon County’s sustainability efforts. For GLRA, the pilot represents the latest evolution of a long‑standing commitment to exploring new recycling opportunities.
“Each year we look for ways to expand what’s possible,” said GLRA Recycling Coordinator Amy Mazzella di Bosco. “Mattresses were the next logical step, and the timing was right to finally understand how many we could divert from our landfill.”
The idea took shape after Casella introduced its established Mattress Recycling Program at GLRA’s 2024 Commercial Hauler Meeting. Mazzella di Bosco immediately saw potential, and by early December, GLRA and Casella were meeting to discuss logistics, costs, benefits, and operational needs.
“From my past interactions with Amy, it was clear she brings both passion and expertise to her role,” said Crystal Workinger, Strategic Accounts Manager for Casella’s Mid‑Atlantic Region. “Her enthusiasm for advancing recycling is contagious, and GLRA’s communication and education efforts are among the strongest in the region.”
Mattresses pose a unique challenge for disposal sites, consuming valuable airspace and offering little compaction. For GLRA, which extended the life of its original landfill by seven years through strong recycling programs and operational innovation, every diversion opportunity matters.
“We never had any idea how many mattresses Lebanon County threw away each year,” Mazzella di Bosco said. “Now we’re collecting real data, and that data will help us protect future landfill capacity.”
The pilot was designed to be simple. Casella placed a dedicated trailer onsite, GLRA staff loaded mattresses directly into it, and once full, Casella transported the load to its Willimantic, CT facility, where the mattresses were dismantled into the recyclable components of foam, textiles, metal, and wood. The first haul exceeded expectations.
“I was shocked and surprised, but also incredibly proud. Our employees followed every guideline to a T. They did an amazing job on their very first load,” Mazzella di Bosco said. “Casella’s overall dedication to recycling made them the ideal partner for this project, and most importantly, their program is designed to be easy and straightforward for municipal entities to implement.”
For Casella, the significance of that first trailer extends beyond the number of mattresses.
“It shows that municipal mattress recycling is not only possible but practical in the Mid‑Atlantic,” Workinger said. “This first load signals a real opportunity to capture a material that has historically gone to disposal and instead divert it into a recycling stream.”
Early results confirm a consistent, recoverable flow of mattresses, an essential indicator for long‑term viability and regional expansion. Both organizations hope the pilot will inspire other communities to explore similar programs.
“I’ve always believed in not reinventing the wheel,” Mazzella di Bosco said. “We’re happy to share what works and what doesn’t so others can build on our success.”
Workinger echoed that sentiment, noting that GLRA’s leadership and openness make them a model partner.
“Their proactive approach, strong communication, and genuine commitment to sustainability set the tone for what’s possible across the region.”
As the pilot continues, GLRA and Casella envision a future in which mattress recycling becomes a standard service across the Mid‑Atlantic region. For now, the first trailer stands as a symbol of what collaboration can achieve, a small but powerful step toward a more sustainable Lebanon County.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, is one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States. Founded in 1975 as a single truck collection service, Casella has grown its operations to provide solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to more than one million residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers and provides professional resource management services to over 10,000 customer locations in more than 40 states.
