Updated 2026-10-01
Americans discard roughly 20 million mattresses every year, and the large majority still end up in landfills. This page collects the most useful numbers on the problem in one place, and we keep it updated as programs and estimates evolve.
The scale of the stream
Industry and recycling program estimates put annual US mattress disposal at roughly 15 to 20 million units. Spread across the year, that is tens of thousands of mattresses retired every single day, driven by a typical replacement cycle of 7 to 10 years per bed.
Why landfills hate them
A single mattress can occupy as much as 40 cubic feet of landfill space, and mattresses resist compaction: the spring core pushes back against equipment, creating voids and flotation problems in the working face. Many landfills charge extra for mattresses or route them to separate piles for exactly this reason.
The recyclability gap
Industry estimates put the recyclable share of a typical mattress at roughly 75 percent or more by weight. Steel springs route to scrap, foam becomes carpet padding and other products, fibers find reuse streams, and wood foundations chip for mulch or fuel. The gap between what could be recycled and what is comes down to access: dismantling is labor intensive and facilities are not everywhere.
Where policy is closing the gap
California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island run statewide mattress stewardship programs funded through a small fee on new mattress sales, with free resident drop off sites, and Oregon launched the newest statewide program in 2025. Together the state programs have recycled millions of mattresses that would otherwise have been landfilled. Our state law guide covers what applies where you live.
What one household can do
A clean mattress gets a second life through donation, and a worn one gets the recycling attempt through mattress removal starting at $85, with donation offered first and the exact price guaranteed before you book.
See your price and keep one more off the pile.