Where can I recycle a mattress?

In California, Connecticut, Oregon and Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council’s Bye Bye Mattress program runs collection sites. Elsewhere, check your city or county for recycling programs or collection days.

Can I put a mattress in a dumpster?

Often yes, but many providers charge a per-mattress fee, and some don’t accept them in states with recycling programs. Ask first.

Will the city pick up my old couch?

Most cities pick up bulky household items on a schedule or by appointment, often for free or a small fee.

What should I do with a mattress that has bed bugs?

Don’t donate or sell it. Wrap it completely in plastic and dispose of it through city pickup, a junk hauler or a container.

Mattress and Furniture Disposal: Your Options

Start with reuse

Furniture in good condition often has a second life. Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept new and gently used furniture, appliances and household goods, and many ReStores pick up larger items – check with your local store. Charities, shelters, thrift stores and online marketplaces are other options. Mattresses are harder to donate because of hygiene rules; many charities don’t accept used mattresses at all.

Mattress recycling programs

Several states have mattress recycling laws. The Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit formed by the mattress industry, runs recycling programs under the name Bye Bye Mattress in California, Connecticut, Oregon and Rhode Island. Each program is funded by a recycling fee collected when consumers buy a new mattress or box spring, which pays for collection sites, transport and dismantling. In those states, residents can drop off mattresses at participating collection sites, usually for free. Mattresses are dismantled, and the steel, foam, fiber and wood are recycled.

Outside those states, some cities and counties run their own mattress recycling or collection days. Search your city or county website for “mattress recycling”.

Retailer take-back

When you buy a new mattress or furniture, many retailers offer to remove the old one on delivery, sometimes for a fee. It is often the easiest option for a single item: the old piece leaves on the same truck that brings the new one.

City bulky item pickup

Most cities pick up bulky household items – furniture and often mattresses – either on a schedule or by appointment, often for free or a small fee. Examples from our city pages:

Kansas City, Missouri: bulky item collection by appointment, up to 15 items and under 500 pounds per appointment.
Minneapolis: up to two large items per week with regular garbage collection.
Washington, DC: up to seven items per bulk appointment.
Miami-Dade County: two free bulky pickups per year of up to 25 cubic yards each.

Some cities require mattresses to be wrapped in plastic for pickup, to prevent bed bugs from spreading. Check your city’s rules.

Junk removal

A junk removal crew carries items out and hauls them away. For one to a few pieces, especially from upper floors, it is often the most convenient option. Angi puts the national average for junk removal at about $241, and single bulky items at about $80 to $400 each. Many junk haulers donate or recycle what they can.

When a dumpster makes sense

A roll-off container is the better choice when furniture is only part of a larger job – an estate cleanout, a move-out, a basement or a whole-house clearout. You load at your own pace, and a 10 to 20 yard container holds a lot of furniture. A few things to know:

Mattresses and box springs are often accepted with a per-item surcharge, and some providers don’t accept them in states with recycling programs.
Upholstered furniture is bulky; break down frames and remove legs to save space.
Appliances with refrigerant (refrigerators, freezers, window AC units) need special handling. See What can’t you put in a dumpster?
Glass and mirrors should be wrapped or broken safely inside a bag or box before loading.

Compare the options in dumpster vs. junk removal.

Bed bugs

If a mattress or upholstered furniture has bed bugs, don’t donate or sell it. Wrap it completely in plastic before moving it through the house, label it, and dispose of it through the city, a junk hauler or a container. Some cities require bed-bug-infested items to be wrapped or marked.

Don’t leave it on the curb

Putting furniture or a mattress on the curb outside of a scheduled pickup often counts as illegal dumping and can lead to a citation. Use one of the options above, and schedule pickups in advance.

Selling furniture that still has value

Solid wood furniture, mid-century pieces, antiques and name-brand items can often be sold through online marketplaces, consignment stores or estate sales. Clear photos, honest descriptions and measurements help. For a whole household, an estate sale company may handle pricing and the sale on commission – see our estate cleanout checklist. Anything that doesn’t sell can still be donated before the rest goes to disposal.

Outdoor furniture and exercise equipment

Metal patio furniture, grills and exercise machines are largely metal and can often go to a scrap recycler; remove propane tanks from grills first, since they need special handling. Plastic patio furniture and cushions go with regular bulky waste or into a container.

Preparing furniture for pickup or loading

Take it apart: remove legs, cushions, drawers and shelves; flat-pack items take up far less space in a truck or container.
Empty everything: check drawers, cushions and pockets for valuables and papers before disposal.
Protect the path: moving heavy furniture down stairs can damage walls and floors; use blankets and a dolly, and get help.
Wrap mattresses: a mattress bag keeps it cleaner and is required by some cities for pickup.
Glass tops and mirrors: remove and wrap them separately to avoid injury.

Why mattresses are a special case

Mattresses are bulky, springy and hard to compact, so they take up a lot of space in landfills and can tangle landfill equipment. That is one reason several states created recycling programs and why many dumpster providers charge a per-mattress fee. When a mattress is recycled, its steel springs, foam and fibers can be separated and reused, and wooden frames from box springs can be chipped.

Quick decision guide

Good condition? Donate or sell.
Buying a replacement? Ask the retailer to take the old one.
Mattress in California, Connecticut, Oregon or Rhode Island? Use a Bye Bye Mattress collection site.
A few items, no rush? City bulky pickup.
A few items, today, no lifting? Junk removal.
A whole house or a big cleanout? A dumpster.

How our service fits in

Local Dumpster Network is a free referral service. When you call, you are connected with an independent, local dumpster provider that serves your ZIP code. Ask them about fees for mattresses and other special items before you book.

Mattress and furniture disposal: your options