DENVER -- Everyone deserves a second chance, and a company called Spring Back Colorado gives former addicts another chance at life.
At a warehouse on the city's north side, you can find a handful of men tearing up mattresses. The metal, wood and foam are ripped out of the used beds.
"We use 90 percent of the mattress," one worker said.
The men spend their days working inside the building. It's an environmentally friendly way to get rid of your mattress, instead of sending it off to the landfill.
"This will go to be made into carpet," another worker said.
The men each share something in common. The tearing and ripping keeps them focused while they're on their journey to recovery.
"It's been hard. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," said Robert Longoria.
Longoria has been with the company for nearly five years.
"I started doing drugs when I was 13, 14 years old," Longoria said.
Like all the men here, Longoria is turning his life around. The past four years, he's been in recovery. Longoria said finding a job as a felon is hard to come by, and being an addict is a constant cycle that's hard to break.
"Most people will choose to get a job and get an apartment," said Longoria. "Our society will not allow us to make those choices, so if you think it's a choice to get high, maybe you should really evaluate that some of our other choices are cut off from us."
Until Spring Back Colorado started a few years ago. Chris Conway started the business, and has two locations: Denver and Ft. Collins. It's a non-profit company.
"We've all had our challenges in life, we shouldn't quit on people that are challenged or not doing always the appropriate thing," Conway said. "We have to believe in them and stand by them."
Longoria credits the job and is boss for saving his life. He said today his life is completely different.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this job," Longoria said.
Spring Back Colorado will take your mattress for a fee of $20. The company can also pick up your mattress.
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