How to Dispose of a Mattress

A mattress is one of the hardest household items to get rid of: too big for the bin, banned from landfill in several states, refused by most charities, and prohibited in most rental dumpsters. But it's also one of the few items with a genuinely free route almost everywhere. Here's what actually works.

Short answer: book your city's bulk pickup — it's free and takes mattresses in any condition. If you can't wait, a transfer station will take it for $10–$30. Paying $75–$175 for removal is only worth it if it's upstairs, you have no vehicle, or you're on a deadline.

Can you just put a mattress in the trash?

Not in a normal bin — it won't fit, and crews won't take it as regular collection. But almost every US city has a route for it, and in most cases that route is free.

Two rules catch people out:

Many cities require the mattress to be wrapped in plastic before kerbside collection. It's a bed-bug control measure, and crews will refuse an unwrapped mattress where it applies. Disposal bags cost a few dollars at any hardware store.
Leaving it out unannounced is usually a fineable offence. Bulk collection is booked, not automatic.

Where mattresses are actually banned

Several states and many municipalities prohibit mattresses from landfill outright, which is why facilities charge a specific per-mattress handling fee rather than taking them as general waste.

California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Oregon run mattress stewardship programmes funded by a recycling fee added when you bought the mattress. If you're in one of those states, drop-off at a participating site is generally free — you've already paid for it. A lot of people in those states pay for removal unnecessarily.

Your options, cheapest first

1. City bulk pickup — free

Most municipalities collect bulky items free, commonly two to four times a year, sometimes monthly. Mattresses almost always qualify and condition is irrelevant.

Book a date online or through 311, wrap it if your city requires that, and put it out the night before. This is the correct answer for most people and the one most often overlooked.

2. Retailer haul-away — free to $30

If you're buying a replacement, most retailers will take the old mattress on delivery. Arrange it when you order — delivery crews usually can't add it on the day.

Worth knowing: boxed online mattresses frequently don't include haul-away at all. Check before you buy if that matters to you.

3. Mattress recycling — free to $40

A mattress is roughly 75% recyclable. Steel springs go to scrap, foam becomes carpet underlay, wood is chipped, and fabric is repurposed. Dedicated recyclers typically charge $0–$40, and it's free in the four stewardship states.

4. Transfer station or landfill — $10–$30

Fast if you have a vehicle that fits it. Most facilities charge a flat per-mattress fee. Call ahead on two points: whether they accept mattresses at all, and their hours, which are often shorter than expected and rarely include Sundays.

5. Charity — free, but the bar is high

Goodwill does not accept mattresses at essentially any location. The Salvation Army sometimes does and will often collect free, but many chapters have stopped over bed bugs. Habitat ReStore generally declines them.

The underlying rule is resaleability — a stained or sagging mattress costs a charity money to dispose of. If yours is genuinely near-new, call your local branch directly rather than the national line.

6. Paid removal — $75–$175

Worth it when the mattress is above the ground floor, you have no vehicle, or you're clearing several items at once. See mattress removal cost for the full breakdown.

Breaking it down yourself

Feasible, and genuinely useful if you have no vehicle and no collection service. You'll need a utility knife and a hacksaw or bolt cutters.

Cut the fabric around the perimeter and peel the top and bottom panels off.
Pull out the foam, batting and padding — these go in regular waste in most areas.
Cut the wooden frame into manageable sections.
Cut or bend the steel spring unit down. This goes to a scrap yard, often for a small payment.

Budget one to two hours and expect a significant mess. Wear heavy gloves and eye protection — cut spring ends are genuinely dangerous. Against a $20 transfer station fee it's rarely worth the time, but against a $150 removal quote it can be.

If there are bed bugs

This changes everything and is worth getting right:

Wrap it in plastic before moving it through your home, not after.
Label it clearly — many cities require this, and it's basic courtesy to whoever handles it next.
Don't donate it, sell it or give it away.
Tell your hauler if you're paying for removal.
Check your city's procedure — many have a specific one.

Common questions

Will Goodwill take my mattress?

No. Essentially no Goodwill location accepts mattresses, box springs or bed frames — health regulations plus bed-bug risk. This is the single most common misconception about mattress disposal.

Can I put a mattress in a rented dumpster?

Usually not. Most rental companies list mattresses as prohibited or add a specific surcharge, because landfills price them separately.

Is it illegal to throw away a mattress?

It depends where you live. Several states ban them from landfill, and fly-tipping is illegal everywhere — dumped mattresses are among the most commonly fined items because they're easy to trace. Using your city's proper channel is always legal and usually free.

What about the box spring?

Same rules, same routes. Note that many cities count a mattress and box spring as two items against a bulk pickup limit, so check before assuming both go in one collection.

Can I burn it?

No. Mattress foam releases genuinely toxic fumes, and open burning of household waste is illegal in most areas.

Municipal rules — particularly wrapping requirements and bulk pickup limits — vary by city and change. State recycling programmes and their participating sites also change. Always confirm with your city or the facility before you go. Last verified August 2026.