The Mattress Stewardship Act establishes a comprehensive program in New Jersey aimed at the environmentally sound management of discarded mattresses. It requires all mattress producers, retailers, and renovators to join a stewardship organization and register within one year of the act's effective date. The stewardship organization is responsible for developing a detailed plan that includes managing the program, ensuring environmentally sound practices, and providing consumer access to collection opportunities. Retailers and renovators are prohibited from selling mattresses unless they are registered with an organization that has an approved plan, and they must collect a stewardship assessment from consumers at the point of sale to fund the program.

Additionally, the act creates the Mattress Stewardship Fund, which will be financed through surcharges, penalties, and fees associated with the program. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is tasked with maintaining a publicly accessible list of compliant participants and will review annual reports submitted by the stewardship organization that evaluate the program's implementation. These reports will include sales data, costs, recycling rates, and recommendations for improvements. The DEP is also authorized to impose civil administrative penalties for non-compliance, reinforcing the act's goal of enhancing mattress recycling efforts and ensuring adherence to environmental standards.