Recycling is a great way to help the environment and maintain resources without risking further harm to regions affected by mining, foresting, or drilling. As technology advances, more and more items are recyclable, which means reduced consumption of raw materials and continued production and commerce. Sometimes what can and cannot be recycled might surprise people, and that includes mattresses. The bulk of a mattress can be recycled. Metal springs can be melted down and reused just like regular scrap metal; wooden pieces can be turned into wood chips, and the various mattress padding materials, which generally consist of foam, cotton, or felt, are useful for recycling into carpet pads. Of course, mattresses tend to be bulky and heavy, so they cannot generally be placed on the curb for pick-up by the weekly recycling truck. They’re also usually too big for most recycling centers, though that may vary depending on the center in question. So, what should you do? If a new mattress ...