How To Recycle an Old or Used Mattress from Tuck.com
- David Garrison
- Apr 11, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: May 28
Mattress Recycling
Roughly 80% to 90% of mattress parts (by weight) can be recycled or repurposed to create new products. To properly recycle an old or used mattress, first, locate the nearest recycling center that accepts them. A quick Internet search using your zip code will most likely yield at least one location within reasonable driving distance. Both ByeByeMattress.com and Earth911 offer online aggregators that allow you to search for recycling centers accepting certain household goods (such as mattresses) in your geographic area.
You will most likely be charged a fee for recycling your old mattress. Expect to pay $20 to $40 per mattress if you arrange for pick-up services at your home or $10 to $20 for each mattress you transport to a recycling center in your own vehicle. The criteria for acceptable mattress donations will vary by organization. Most centers will not allow you to donate a mattress that is wet, stained, or infested with bed bugs. However, broken or torn mattresses can usually be donated. Also may try reselling your old mattress.
If recycling or donation isn’t an option, consider contacting your local waste disposal service to see if they offer bulk item pickup or special collection days for mattresses. Many municipalities have designated times throughout the year for disposing of large household items. Alternatively, you can rent a dumpster to handle multiple bulky disposals at once—especially helpful if you're clearing out more than just the mattress during a move or major home cleanout.
Before disposing of or recycling your mattress, be sure to remove any bedding, pillows, or mattress protectors. Strip it down to its bare materials to make the process easier for recyclers and reduce contamination. Taking these extra steps not only ensures proper recycling but also contributes to a more sustainable approach to waste management—keeping bulky items out of landfills and giving useful materials a second life.
