Updated 2026-08-26
Yes. Roughly three quarters of a mattress by weight, the steel springs, the foam, the wood frame, has established recycling markets. Whether recycling is easy where you live depends entirely on geography.
The four program states
California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Oregon fund statewide mattress recycling through the Mattress Recycling Council, paid for by a recycling fee collected on every new mattress sale. In these states, collection sites accept mattresses and the infrastructure is the best in the country.
The ban state
Massachusetts skipped the incentive and went straight to law: since November 2022, mattresses are banned from disposal statewide. Haulers and landfills must refuse them, which makes recycling or reuse the only legal path in the Commonwealth.
Everywhere else
The other 45 states leave it to the market and the municipalities. Metro areas generally have recycling facilities that accept mattresses for a per unit fee, and some cities run drop off events or curbside programs. Rural coverage is thinner, which is where hauling logistics kill most good intentions.
What actually gets recovered
Steel springs become scrap steel, one of the most reliable recycling streams there is. Foam becomes carpet padding and industrial filler. Wood becomes mulch and biomass fuel. Fabric and fiber are the hard part, which is why recovery is most rather than all of the mattress.
The zero effort version
A scheduled pickup runs the routing for you: donation first if the mattress qualifies, recycling where facilities operate, compliant disposal only as the last resort, all at one guaranteed price from $85. The full recycling guide goes deeper on the DIY path if you want to run it yourself.