The tests were part of ISPA's Earth Sustainability Initiative, which is looking to expand the options for recycling used mattress components. Working with mattress retailers, government officials, for-profit and non-profit recyclers and potential consumers of recycled materials, the association wants to increase the number of recycling operations that can process used mattresses.

Currently, ISPA has identified 15 mattress recycling centers in the United States and Canada.

"Helping grow the number of available mattress recycling centers throughout North America promises great benefits for the mattress industry, retailers, consumers and the environment," ISPA executive vice president Ryan Trainer said in a statement.

"Today's landmark effort with RRI provides an excellent solution for processing large volumes of used mattresses, fulfilling our industry's commitment to the environment and having better controls over what becomes of used mattresses," he added.

In the demonstration, ISPA worked with Park Place Corp., a mattress producer based in Greenville, South Carolina, and industry major Simmons Bedding, which contributed 200 used mattresses and box springs for RRI to process.

"Successfully recycling used mattress materials is a goal this industry has worked on extensively for many years," said David Orders, vice president for administration at Park Place Corp. and former chair of ISPA's board of trustees. "Achieving good economies of scale will be key to lowering product collection and handling costs and making recycling a viable business."

"Mattresses are durable goods designed to last a long time. The construction and assembly methods used by our industry have historically made recycling difficult," said Michael DeFranks, Simmons director of engineering and chairman of ISPA's sleep products safety council. "Today's experience at RRI opens the door to a more cost-effective means to meet the growing needs of the industry and complements Simmons' commitment to being good stewards of the environment."

The Charleston, South Carolina-based RRI, a state-of-the-art tire shredder, is looking to expand into other recycling areas.

"Recycling used products is our business," said RRI plant manager Scott Johnson. "We want to use our equipment and know-how to reclaim the steel and other materials in used mattresses that could otherwise be wasted. We look forward to working further with the industry in making recycling work for mattresses on a broad scale."

Barrie Brown, president and CEO of Mattress Giant - a 360-unit mattress retailer based in Addision, Texas - and co-chair of ISPA's Mattress Retailer Council (MRC), is optimistic about the program.

"Mattress recycling is a challenge that can't be solved by just one manufacturer or one retailer acting alone," he said. "It is an industry-wide issue in which all parties in the value chain - the manufacturer, the retailer and the consumer - have a shared interest and responsibility. By pooling ideas, resources and talents as the industry is doing here, I am confident we can work toward a practical solution."

For more information about ISPA's Earth Sustainability Initiative, including its recycling efforts, visit www.sleepproducts.org/sustainability.  To access the mattress recycling directory, visit www.sleepproducts.org/RecyclingFacilities.

Workers at Rubber Recovery begin the process of recycling used mattresses in a test being conducted by the International Sleep Products Association.