On 18/08/2023 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
> Surely most councils for the princely sum of x pounds an item will remove
> most things to a safe resting place.
> However if you have sawn it up already with all the bits of foam, then if I
> may say so its a self inflicted wound and may require the use of an
> industrial vacuum cleaner to get rid of the fragments never mind the other
> bits.

It took an hour or two of vacuuming to get it all up. Well, I say all,
but we keep finding bits.

> Brian
>

On 18 Aug 2023 at 10:52:08 BST, GB wrote:

> On 18/08/2023 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
>> Surely most councils for the princely sum of x pounds an item will remove
>> most things to a safe resting place.
>> However if you have sawn it up already with all the bits of foam, then if I
>> may say so its a self inflicted wound and may require the use of an
>> industrial vacuum cleaner to get rid of the fragments never mind the other
>> bits.
>
> It took an hour or two of vacuuming to get it all up. Well, I say all,
> but we keep finding bits.
>

Just chucked out a foam mattress - used a kitchen knife to cut it up to fit in
the car for a tip run. No bits.

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

RJH wrote:

> Just chucked out a foam mattress - used a kitchen knife to cut it up to fit in
> the car for a tip run. No bits.

A wide multi-tool blade might do well on memory foam?

On 18/08/2023 12:03, Andy Burns wrote:
> RJH wrote:
>
>> Just chucked out a foam mattress - used a kitchen knife to cut it up
>> to fit in
>> the car for a tip run. No bits.
>
> A wide multi-tool blade might do well on memory foam?
>
Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
shaping foam.

On 17/08/2023 18:29, GB wrote:
> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>
> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>
> That's the end of the good news.
>
> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>
> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it into
> the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>
> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>
> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
> taxed her patience.
>
>

A mattress left outside on a breezy day could just happen to fall on the
coals of a barbecue

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 18/08/2023 10:52, GB wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 10:00, Brian Gaff wrote:
>> Surely most councils for the princely sum of x pounds an item will remove
>> most things to a safe resting place.
>> However if you have sawn it up already with all the bits of foam, then
>> if I
>> may say so its a self inflicted wound and may require the use of an
>> industrial vacuum cleaner to get rid of the fragments never mind the
>> other
>> bits.
>
> It took an hour or two of vacuuming to get it all up. Well, I say all,
> but we keep finding bits.
>
>
>
>
>>   Brian
>>
>

You've clearly made your bed, you must now lie in it! :-D

On 17/08/2023 23:26, Animal wrote:

> some other options...
> take it to the tip
> pay a disposal company too much
> strip the cloth/padding off, take it to the scrappie
> give it free on freecycle, gumtree, etc if in good condition, which it likely won't be

Around my way it now seems common practice for mattresses/sofas to
magically appear overnight on the pavement corner of the main road.

This anti-social fly tipping is usually cleared by the council's
contractors within a day or two.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

S Viemeister <firstname@lastname.oc.ku> wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 12:03, Andy Burns wrote:
> > RJH wrote:
> >
> >> Just chucked out a foam mattress - used a kitchen knife to cut it up
> >> to fit in
> >> the car for a tip run. No bits.
> >
> > A wide multi-tool blade might do well on memory foam?
> >
> Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
> useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
> shaping foam.

That's one recommended tool for PIR foam insulation board.

Although you probably want to make a jig for precision cuts if you need an
interference fit (Gapotape looks like a good idea there, I've not tried it).

Theo

Theo wrote:

> S Viemeister wrote:
>
>> Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
>> useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
>> shaping foam.
>
> That's one recommended tool for PIR foam insulation board.

The "teeth" on this look similar to electric carving knife blades

<https://www.bahco.com/gb_en/insulation-saws-for-mineral-wool-stone-wool-eco-wool-styrexr-pb_pc-22-ins_.html>

On 17/08/2023 21:08, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 17-Aug-23 18:29, GB wrote:
>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
>> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>
>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>
>> That's the end of the good news.
>>
>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>
>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it
>> into the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>
>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>
>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
>> taxed her patience.
>
> The last time we 'disposed' of a mattress, SWMBO insisted on taking it
> apart and extracting all the pocket springs - on the "They might come in
> handy" principle.
> I think they are all still up in the loft - along with a couple of tons
> of other "They might come in handy" items.
>

You could have put the entire mattress up there, as extra loft
insulation :-)

On 18/08/2023 08:13, Thomas Prufer wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Aug 2023 18:29:36 +0100, GB <NOTsomeone@microsoft.invalid> wrote:
>
>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
>> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>
>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>
>> That's the end of the good news.
>>
>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>
>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it into
>> the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>
>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>
>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
>> taxed her patience.
>
> Stick the foam mattress (or parts thereof) in a plastic bag, perhaps using the
> one that the new one came in. Apply the hose of a vacuum cleaner to the bag. The
> mattress will contract; roll up the bag, or otherwise get it as small as
> possible, while leaving the vacuum running. This will include stepping on it,
> being careful to not perforate the plastic. While the mattress is in submission,
> wrap the bag in packing tape, like a roast in butcher's twine, or a generous
> wrap of clingfilm, or a combination. Remove vacuum hose and let the vacuum run
> for a bit to cool the motor...
>
> The mattress will expand alarmingly against the tape (string, rope, clingfilm),
> but it will be much smaller.
>
> While the above may sound like a joke: no, it isn't. Yes, this works, and yes, I
> have done this successfully (more than once). I'd estimate a size reduction of
> 10:1.
>
>
> Thomas Prufer

Pour acetone all over it and dissolve it into gooey lump

On 18/08/2023 14:14, Theo wrote:
> S Viemeister <firstname@lastname.oc.ku> wrote:
>> On 18/08/2023 12:03, Andy Burns wrote:
>>> RJH wrote:
>>>
>>>> Just chucked out a foam mattress - used a kitchen knife to cut it up
>>>> to fit in
>>>> the car for a tip run. No bits.
>>>
>>> A wide multi-tool blade might do well on memory foam?
>>>
>> Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
>> useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
>> shaping foam.
>
> That's one recommended tool for PIR foam insulation board.
>
> Although you probably want to make a jig for precision cuts if you need an
> interference fit (Gapotape looks like a good idea there, I've not tried it).
>
Hmm.
I've only ever used it for upholstery projects.

On 18 Aug 2023 at 14:14:34 BST, Theo wrote:

>> Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
>> useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
>> shaping foam.
>
> That's one recommended tool for PIR foam insulation board.
>
> Although you probably want to make a jig for precision cuts if you need an
> interference fit (Gapotape looks like a good idea there, I've not tried it).

Good idea - but it'd hike the price of insulation at about £1/metre - £150 for
a 4m x 3m suspended timber floor?

Think I'll stick with foam.

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

On Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 18:29:40 UTC+1, GB wrote:
> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>
> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>
> That's the end of the good news.
>
> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>
> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it into
> the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>
> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>
> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
> taxed her patience.
What a lot of fannying about. Id have burnt the thing after dark

John J <johnjessop46@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 18:29:40 UTC+1, GB wrote:
>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
>> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>
>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>
>> That's the end of the good news.
>>
>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>
>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it into
>> the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>
>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>
>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
>> taxed her patience.
> What a lot of fannying about. Id have burnt the thing after dark
>

I hope you don’t have neighbours.

If you have a car you can always just strap it to the roof to take it to
the tip. No roof rack needed. If that doesn’t appeal, a couple of ratchet
straps will compress it into something that will fit in most hatchbacks.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On 18-Aug-23 9:22, alan_m wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 08:22, Paul Herber wrote:
>
>>
>> That's the difference. Women hoard rubbish, men keep useful stuff just
>> in case.
>
> In my younger days and when I was struggling financially after buying a
> property I did overdo the keeping of just in case items.
>
> These days it's very much the case of not keeping too much of things I'm
> unlikely to use again and periodically going through and disposing of
> items I haven't used in years. Anything that may be of use to someone
> else either gets displayed on my front garden driveway with a 'free,
> help yourself' sign or gets advertised as free* on social media, but
> then goes to the tip if I'm still left with it for a week.

Some years back, SWMBO put a large box of plastic plant pots out with a
"Free - Help yourself"
notice on it.

A schoolkid (there's a Comprehensive further along our road) grabbed the
box and took the whole thing away.
SWMBO was quite pleased.
An hour later, a car drew up and a woman got out, she put the box back
where it started from, and drove away.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 18-Aug-23 10:49, Clive Arthur wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 09:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
> <snip>
>>
>> I find a skip every 5 years is optimal. They may take mattresses too.
>
> In my sister's experience - she lives in London - putting a skip outside
> your house will act as a mattress magnet, leaving little room for your
> own waste.

Market opportunity for skips with lockable lids?

--
Sam Plusnet

On 18-Aug-23 17:18, Andrew wrote:
> On 17/08/2023 21:08, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 17-Aug-23 18:29, GB wrote:
>>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take
>>> up their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>>
>>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>>
>>> That's the end of the good news.
>>>
>>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>>
>>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it
>>> into the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>>
>>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>>
>>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
>>> taxed her patience.
>>
>> The last time we 'disposed' of a mattress, SWMBO insisted on taking it
>> apart and extracting all the pocket springs - on the "They might come
>> in handy" principle.
>> I think they are all still up in the loft - along with a couple of
>> tons of other "They might come in handy" items.
>>
>
> You could have put the entire mattress up there, as extra loft
> insulation :-)

IIRC, she used most of the stuffing since she was doing a lot of
re-upholstery at the time - that was probably why she thought the
springs might find a second use.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 17/08/2023 19:08, Andy Burns wrote:
> GB wrote:
>
>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it
>> into the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>
> To get rid of my previous one I snapped all the metal rods running top
> to bottom (the metal was surprisingly weak) put a couple of ratchet
> straps round it and curled it up, then drove it to the tip ... mind you
> I did have an estate car back then.

Many years ago, we just folded the mattress and sat on it while we tied
it up and then tied it on the roof (no roof-rack) on my mother's Fiat 126.

On 17/08/2023 20:11, SH wrote:
> On 17/08/2023 20:02, alan_m wrote:
>> On 17/08/2023 18:44, SH wrote:
>>> On 17/08/2023 18:29, GB wrote:
>>>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take
>>>> up their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>>>
>>>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>>>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>>>
>>>> That's the end of the good news.
>>>>
>>>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>>>
>>>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it
>>>> into the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>>>
>>>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>>>
>>>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this
>>>> has taxed her patience.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Angle grinder?   :-D
>>>
>>>
>>> Some councils offer a large item collection service.
>>
>> +1
>> My local council will collect a single/double mattress for a £10 fee
>> and thereafter £7 for any other bulky item collected at the same time
>> (max 5 items)
>>
>>
>>> I got rid of 2 double mattresses for £20 all in (Northants) and the
>>> council will collect up to 3 items. They will not collect fridges or
>>> freezers.
>>
>> My council (or more  correctly their refuse contractor) will collect
>> fridges/freezers for the same fee. These items must be defrosted and
>> shelves removed.
>>
>> I'm in the process of purchasing a new fridge and the above charges
>> are under half what the retailer wants for removal of the old fridge.
>>
>> My local tip will also accept bulky items such as mattresses without a
>> fee if you can transport it there yourself in a car or car towed
>> trailer. No commercial waste allowed and the tip now has automatic car
>> number plate recognition, presumably to track the number of visits.
>>
>
> Its the same here in Northants. Domestic users now have to register for
> a trailer permit before arriving with a trailer and you are allowed 3
> trailer visits for each 12 months that the permit is valid for.
>
> The trailer permit is free (currently)
>
> There appears to be no limit on trailer size or an allowance for more
> visits with smaller trailers.

Here in Trafford, we can make 52 visits a year with a car (as we have
more than one car, we could do a lot more, but I haven't actually
visited for months).

Single axle trailers need no permit and are just part of the 52 visits.

Twin axle trailers and vans (non-commercial waste) are allowed 13 (IIRC)
visits per year and do require pre-registration.

What has become more of a problem is plasterboard or asbestos roof
sheets. They used to be accepted at most of the tips, but now there is
only a single one. It is still free to access for the public, despite
being a commercial waste site, however, it is only open 9 to 5, Monday
to Friday (when most people can't go); is appointment only; and users
must wear safety boots, hard-hat and hi-viz vest.

On 18/08/2023 09:22, alan_m wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 08:22, Paul Herber wrote:
>
>>
>> That's the difference. Women hoard rubbish, men keep useful stuff just
>> in case.
>
> In my younger days and when I was struggling financially after buying a
> property I did overdo the keeping of just in case items.
>
> These days it's very much the case of not keeping too much of things I'm
> unlikely to use again and periodically going through and disposing of
> items I haven't used in years.

The trouble with that is that on so many occasions, I have thrown stuff
out because it has sat around for 10 or 20 years and then while doing
something a week or two later, suddenly thought "That xxxx will do the
job. Damn, I just through it out!"

On 18/08/2023 10:49, Clive Arthur wrote:
> On 18/08/2023 09:21, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
> <snip>
>>
>> I find a skip every 5 years is optimal. They may take mattresses too.
>
> In my sister's experience -

Ah...

she lives in London

....There's your problem right there, lady...
(is being in London actually classed as 'living'?)

> - putting a skip outside
> your house will act as a mattress magnet, leaving little room for your
> own waste.
>
So put yours in first.

--
The higher up the mountainside
The greener grows the grass.
The higher up the monkey climbs
The more he shows his arse.

Traditional

On 19/08/2023 00:06, SteveW wrote:
> On 17/08/2023 20:11, SH wrote:
>> On 17/08/2023 20:02, alan_m wrote:
>>> On 17/08/2023 18:44, SH wrote:
>>>> On 17/08/2023 18:29, GB wrote:
>>>>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take
>>>>> up their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>>>>
>>>>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>>>>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's the end of the good news.
>>>>>
>>>>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>>>>
>>>>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it
>>>>> into the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>>>>
>>>>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>>>>
>>>>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this
>>>>> has taxed her patience.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Angle grinder?   :-D
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Some councils offer a large item collection service.
>>>
>>> +1
>>> My local council will collect a single/double mattress for a £10 fee
>>> and thereafter £7 for any other bulky item collected at the same time
>>> (max 5 items)
>>>
>>>
>>>> I got rid of 2 double mattresses for £20 all in (Northants) and the
>>>> council will collect up to 3 items. They will not collect fridges or
>>>> freezers.
>>>
>>> My council (or more  correctly their refuse contractor) will collect
>>> fridges/freezers for the same fee. These items must be defrosted and
>>> shelves removed.
>>>
>>> I'm in the process of purchasing a new fridge and the above charges
>>> are under half what the retailer wants for removal of the old fridge.
>>>
>>> My local tip will also accept bulky items such as mattresses without
>>> a fee if you can transport it there yourself in a car or car towed
>>> trailer. No commercial waste allowed and the tip now has automatic
>>> car number plate recognition, presumably to track the number of visits.
>>>
>>
>> Its the same here in Northants. Domestic users now have to register
>> for a trailer permit before arriving with a trailer and you are
>> allowed 3 trailer visits for each 12 months that the permit is valid for.
>>
>> The trailer permit is free (currently)
>>
>> There appears to be no limit on trailer size or an allowance for more
>> visits with smaller trailers.
>
> Here in Trafford, we can make 52 visits a year with a car (as we have
> more than one car, we could do a lot more, but I haven't actually
> visited for months).
>
> Single axle trailers need no permit and are just part of the 52 visits.
>
> Twin axle trailers and vans (non-commercial waste) are allowed 13 (IIRC)
> visits per year and do require pre-registration.
>
> What has become more of a problem is plasterboard or asbestos roof
> sheets. They used to be accepted at most of the tips, but now there is
> only a single one. It is still free to access for the public, despite
> being a commercial waste site, however, it is only open 9 to 5, Monday
> to Friday (when most people can't go); is appointment only; and users
> must wear safety boots, hard-hat and hi-viz vest.
>
>
Plasterboad is ok if you hire a skip although there is a surcharge.
Small amounts you just cut it up and put it in the normal bin over a
period of weeks.
Asbestos? well there are places that take it, but frankly just bury it
on a dark night somewhere.

--
The higher up the mountainside
The greener grows the grass.
The higher up the monkey climbs
The more he shows his arse.

Traditional

In message <kk9a7aFpm7rU1@mid.individual.net>, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> writes
>Theo wrote:
>
>> S Viemeister wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago, my mother got an electric carving knife - she found it to be
>>> useless for carving, but I found that it was ideal for cutting and
>>> shaping foam.
>> That's one recommended tool for PIR foam insulation board.
>
>The "teeth" on this look similar to electric carving knife blades
>
><https://www.bahco.com/gb_en/insulation-saws-for-mineral-wool-stone-wool
>-eco-wool-styrexr-pb_pc-22-ins_.html>

Using your *angle grinder* to remove the teeth from a hand saw creates
an excellent tool for cutting rolled stone wool insulation into
appropriate widths.
>

--
Tim Lamb

In message <ac882c84-6ece-43e5-b53e-50fa79362c81n@googlegroups.com>,
John J <johnjessop46@gmail.com> writes
>On Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 18:29:40 UTC+1, GB wrote:
>> I bought a new mattress from Emma, and very foolishly I didn't take up
>> their offer (for £45) to dispose of the old mattress.
>>
>> The good news is that I could saw up the old foam mattress into
>> reasonable size chunks that will eventually go in the wheelie bin.
>>
>> That's the end of the good news.
>>
>> The bad news is so plentiful that it's hard to know where to begin.
>>
>> The old mattress is 1 cubic metre. But, when it comes to fitting it into
>> the bin, it's more like 3 m3.
>>
>> And, the mess! OMG! The mess!
>>
>> I am blessed with a particularly kind and lovely spouse, but this has
>> taxed her patience.
>What a lot of fannying about. Id have burnt the thing after dark

05/11/2023 is coming..

--
Tim Lamb