MATTRESS mountains are springing up across the nation because they are so tricky to recycle, an expert says.

At least are 250,000 now being stored in warehouses, including 35,000 in a 40,000sq ft building in Wednesbury, West Mids.

Just 16 per cent are stripped and reused — the rest are burnt, buried in landfill or dumped.

Nick Oettinger, of The Furniture Recycling Group in Blackburn, is called in to clear out the dumps.

He said: “The problem with the shift towards recycling is a lot of companies have sprung up to make money.

"You would think it’s quite lucrative — just take the steel springs out and send it off.

“But splitting the component parts is technical.

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"These companies have rented warehouses, got massive quantities of mattresses from councils and private firms but not been able to recycle them. They have created these mountains.”

He advised people to check the testimonials of recycling firms.

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