Ep 11. Mattress Recycler

In Dirty Jobs season 5 episode 11, titled "Mattress Recycler," host Mike Rowe heads to Salt Lake City, Utah to pitch in at a mattress recycling operation. Mike is met by Kenny, the owner of Bye Bye Mattress, who explains that the business is part of a statewide initiative to reduce the number of mattresses sent to landfills each year.

Mike begins his day by meeting the first group of workers tasked with dismantling the mattresses. These workers use sharp tools to cut into the mattresses, removing materials like foam, cotton batting, and metal springs. Mike jumps in to help, but quickly realizes that this is a messy and physically demanding job. He also notes that the materials being removed from the mattresses are taking up a lot of space, making it clear why recycling them is so important.

Next, Mike shifts his focus to the machine operators who are responsible for shredding the mattress components into smaller pieces. He meets Brian, who shows him around the massive machine that does most of the heavy lifting. Brian explains that the machine can shred up to 60 mattresses per hour, reducing them to small flakes of material. Mike is impressed by the efficiency of the machine, but is also surprised to see that it often releases a lot of dust into the air.

To prevent workers from inhaling the dust, Kenny and his team have implemented a new safety system that includes breathing masks and high-powered vacuums. Mike is pleased to see these measures in place and decides to try out the breathing mask for himself. He admits that it's uncomfortable to wear for long periods, but realizes that it's necessary to protect his health.

After spending time with the machine operators, Mike meets up with a worker who is tasked with baling up the shredded mattress materials. This worker, named Tony, explains that the bales are sold to various companies that use the materials for things like carpet padding and insulation. Tony shows Mike the baling machine, which compresses the shredded materials into tightly packed blocks. Mike is surprised to see how much material can fit into just one bale.

As the day wears on, Mike continues to work with various groups of employees, including those responsible for transporting the shredded materials to buyers and those who maintain the equipment. He is impressed by the dedication and hard work of everyone he meets, noting that this job requires a lot of skill and attention to detail.

At the end of the day, Mike reflects on the experience and notes that his time at Bye Bye Mattress has given him a new appreciation for the work that goes into recycling materials. He also praises Kenny and his team for their dedication to sustainability and for working so hard to keep mattresses out of landfills.

Overall, "Mattress Recycler" is an eye-opening episode that explores the dirty and often-overlooked world of mattress recycling. Mike Rowe's hands-on approach to learning about the topic makes for an engaging and informative viewing experience, providing viewers with a better understanding of the importance of recycling and the hard work that goes into it.