Mattresses are bulky, heavy, and difficult to dispose of responsibly. This is why so many end up illegally dumped on sidewalks, beside dumpsters, or in alleyways. Taking one to the landfill often means extra fees, and once buried, it does not compact well and can trap flammable, toxic gases.
This guide breaks down the most practical and environmentally responsible ways to get rid of an old mattress, helping you avoid landfill issues and choose the option that works best for you.
7 Ways to Get Rid of a Mattress
Method 1: Give Away Your Mattress to Friends or Family
Consider this step your first resort. Friends and family members are more likely to accept your used mattress because they know you well and trust you. Try texting or emailing loved ones with pictures and a description of the mattress you’d like to get rid of and ask if they would like to have it.
Method 2: Sell Your Used Mattress
If the mattress you need to get rid of is still in very good condition and doesn’t have any odor or staining, you can try making a little extra cash off of it by selling it online.
Sell It
Write a detailed description, take a few good photos, and post it on Facebook Marketplace or eBay for a quick sale.
Give It Away
If selling is not your preference, offer the mattress for free on Craigslist or Freecycle.
Avoid These
Skip curbside dumping, leaving it in shared areas, or listing it without clear photos. These can lead to fines or overwhelmed buyers.
As long as your mattress is free of bed bugs and is still pretty new without any obvious signs of wear, giving it to someone who can put it to use is a great eco-friendly way to get rid of an old mattress.
Method 3: Break Down Your Mattress
Breaking down your mattress can be an easy disposal option if you have the time, space, and tools available to do it.
Step 1
Cut around the outer fabric, pull away the foam and padding, and roll the soft materials for disposal.
Step 2
Separate the metal springs and take them to a local recycling center or scrapyard.
Step 3
Cut the wooden frame into smaller pieces and reuse it as firewood or kindling.
Method 4: Repurpose Your Old Mattress
If your mattress isn’t in such great condition, you could salvage it by repurposing the materials with a little bit of creativity. There are many ways to reuse your old memory foam mattress instead of throwing it away or dealing with having it recycled.
Creative ways to repurpose and reuse old mattress materials
-
✓
Cut the foam to make pillows or stuff saggy couch cushions. -
✓
Create a luxury pet bed using the foam or cover fabric. -
✓
Craft diaper changing pads, quilts, or floor cushions from usable layers. -
✓
Use mattress fabric to protect garden plants during cold weather. -
✓
Cut and reuse fabric as durable cleaning rags.
Method 5: Donate Used Mattress to Charity
Contact the charities in your area to see if any will be able to put the mattress to use. Because of health regulations, most charities like Goodwill and Salvation Army aren’t able to accept donations of mattresses from the general public, even if they look brand new and are still in their original plastic.
However, some charities can still use old mattresses in other ways. An animal shelter or animal sanctuary is often the best place to check. They can cut the materials into cleaning rags or repurpose the padding for soft animal bedding.
Have donation handled for you. LEARN MORE ❯
Method 6: Recycle Your Mattress
Recycling a mattress is a responsible option, but most centers require it to be clean, wrapped, and properly prepared before they’ll accept it.
Quick prep before recycling your mattress
Remove sheets, covers, and accessories.
Use a plastic mattress bag or cling wrap and seal every edge.
Some centers require separating springs, foam, and wood.
Review your center’s guidelines before hauling it over.
Many areas do not offer curbside recycling, so you may need to haul the mattress yourself or wait for occasional bulky-waste events. Tools like Earth911 can help you locate a facility near you.
Method 7: Use a Mattress Disposal Service (Preferred Method)
Instead of struggling with transport or calling around to find donation or recycling options, you can book a mattress disposal service that handles everything for you.
A quality service will pick up your mattress from inside your home and ensure it’s handled responsibly through donation, recycling, or compliant disposal. This matters because many haulers still dump everything at the landfill, while eco-focused services route mattresses to recycling centers or local nonprofits whenever possible.
When a mattress disposal service is the best option
-
✓
The mattress is heavy, bulky, or difficult to move on your own. -
✓
You don’t have a vehicle that can safely haul a mattress. -
✓
Local donation or recycling programs are limited or unavailable. -
✓
You want eco-friendly disposal handled by a professional.
If you want to skip the heavy lifting and avoid the guesswork, a professional mattress disposal service like Mattress Disposal Plus is the most reliable choice. We combine technology with real human care, offering fast scheduling and upfront pricing so you always know what to expect.
Whenever you need to get rid of a mattress, box spring, bed frame, furniture, or any other item, Mattress Disposal Plus can help. Choose your pickup time, and we connect you with local haulers that handle everything with clarity and care, removal, hauling, and responsible disposal that makes life lighter.
Ready for a pickup? BOOK NOW ❯
Mattress Disposal FAQ
Mattresses are bulky, hard to compact, and labor intensive to recycle since their foam, springs, and fabric have to be separated by hand before anything can be processed. Those costs are reflected in disposal fees, and removal services handle all of that work for you, which makes the pricing understandable. Some states have mattress recycling programs that can help offset costs, so it is worth checking whether your area has one.
It depends on the mattress type. Memory foam and latex are straightforward to cut with an electric carving knife or long serrated blade. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses are more involved, as the metal coils require bolt cutters or a reciprocating saw. Before cutting, check with your local waste facility since some accept oversized items as-is and have their own drop-off guidelines.
