Each year in the U.S., 40 million mattresses are disposed of, and an old mattress can take up as much as 40 cubic feet in a landfill.

Mattresses can last up to 10 years, according to Consumer Reports, but many people have probably owned their Mattresses for longer than that.

What to do with your old mattress?

When it comes time to replace your mattress, try to find a way to dispose of your old one. If your mattress is still in good condition, you may be able to give it away through Freecycle or sell it on Craiglist. Most thrift stores will not accept mattresses for sanitary reasons.

For old mattresses that are not suitable for reuse, first see if the company from which you bought the mattress has a take back Program in place. If that doesn’t pan out, check for local recycling options using Earth911′s Recycling Directory.

Currently, there aren't too many recycling programs available for mattresses, but the number of programs is growing since mattresses can be taken apart and their components reused. King County, Washington, for example, recently expanded their recycling program to include mattresses.