How To Dispose Of A Mattress: Complete Mattress Disposal Guide
Written by Mehran Uzair
Last Updated on Feb 24, 2023
Planning to buy a new mattress? Well, this is when you must also think about how to dispose of a mattress. Why? Because in the United States alone, about 18.2 million mattresses are discarded, while about 50,000 mattresses end up in landfills.
So, to accommodate your new mattress, take a look at how to dispose of a mattress the right way. If the mattress is still in a good condition, you can donate it or recycle it, which is good for the environment too. But, don’t worry! We are here to tell you all about mattress disposal in detail so you can do the needful without breaking a sweat. Take a look.
Signs That Indicate You Need a New Mattress
- Your mattress is sagging, which wakes you up feeling very tired or with aches and pains.
- There are lumps in your mattress, which prevents you from getting comfy as you try to sleep.
- If you feel your partner’s every movement, so much so that it disturbs your sleep, then it’s time to dispose of your old mattress.
- Feeling the coils of your mattress or the springs being too noisy are other signs that you need a new one.
You can opt for mattress donation if your mattress is still in good condition, know-how below.
How to Dispose of A Mattress
If you wonder where to dispose of a mattress, you can either donate it or recycle it. These two can be challenging endeavors but are also healthy for the environment. Knowing about all your options and the charity organizations you can get in touch with makes it very easy.
Mattress Donation
Most of them today donate mattresses rather than throwing them in the trash. This time allows you to do something good and meaningful for people in need. Unfortunately, not all mattresses are fit to be donated because only a mattress in good condition can be. If there is visible wear and tear or damage, it must be avoided.
Is your mattress good enough to donate?
Every charity has its own set of rules and regulations for mattress donation. Your mattress is not good enough to donate if the mattress has;
Infestation: This goes without saying. If your mattress is infested with bed bugs or mold, which cannot be eradicated, then the mattress is not fit for donation. So, how to dispose of a mattress with bed bugs? You will have to get in touch with your city’s local garbage disposal services. They are the only ones who can help you. Because if the mattress cannot be used, no one will be able to use the mattress!
Problems With The Structure: Your mattress should not have any sagging or other issues like broken or bent coils because, again this becomes usable. But if everything is good to go, you can give it to charity. This is how to properly dispose of a mattress.
Rips and Tears: You cannot donate a mattress that is damaged, where you can see any wear and tear. This can include undone seams, small holes, and more.
Stains: Stained mattresses are a big no-no. However, you can clean it at home and see if you are able to get rid of stains with a few easy methods. Also, make sure you always vacuum the mattress well before giving it for donation.
Odor: If you notice any bad smell, use the baking soda trick to ensure it feels fresh. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the mattress. Let it sit for a few hours. Then vacuum it off.
These were some of the checks you must keep in mind before opting for mattress donation. Make a checklist before you proceed and if your mattress aces all the parameters, you are good to go!
Here is where you can donate your mattresses.
Organizations
There are several large organizations that will be happy to take in a good-quality mattress. Some of them include;
Goodwill
Goodwill is a nonprofit that sells all the donated items in their thrift shops that are spread across the country. The amount they make from sales is then used to educate and train individuals with employment barriers. In fact, people participating in the program are also given a few vouchers that they can use to fulfill their requirements.
As of now, there are about 162 stores across the country. But, each store will have its own policy. So, you can call the local store beforehand to check if they are accepting mattress donations and if they offer free mattress removal or free mattress pickup.
Habitat For Humanity
This is an organization that helps people across the globe with affordable housing. This can be by constructing a new house, rehabilitation, and more. Like Goodwill, they too have thrift stores known as ReStore. All the funds they receive via sales go to funding the building for the needy. Some also offer free mattress disposal, where they will come and pick up the mattress themselves. So, give them a call first and confirm if that is possible.
Salvation Army
If you want to donate your mattress, you can always try Salvation Army. The organization will also offer an old mattress pick-up service if your mattress is in good condition. In addition, the mattress will reach shelters, which will help victims of domestic abuse or individuals struck by disasters.
Furniture Bank of America
Also known as FBA, the Furniture Bank of America will most likely accept the mattress if all other doors seem closed. So, if you are wondering what to do with an old mattress? Then try FBA. In fact, if you live within 20 miles of the store, they come and pick up the mattress themselves. This organization provides free or low-cost furniture to people who have low or no income.
Local Charities
If you think smaller charities will benefit more from your donation, you can always approach them. However, they may have stricter rules than the larger organizations. So, it is always best to call them and check before proceeding. Local churches accept donations. They usually run charity throughout the country to help refugees, disabled individuals, low-income families, and more without any religious barrier.
If you are not very familiar with the local donation scene, you can check Donation Town, which will help you find the right charity for your mattress.
Finally, you can get in touch with a local shelter too via a simple Google search. Give them a call first and then move ahead from there. Local or homeless shelters are always in need of mattresses. You can also check the shelter’s website for more information.
Social platforms
You can always try social media to get the job done. For example, you can put it on Instagram or Facebook and your contact may hook you up with someone looking for a mattress. You can also sell used mattresses on social media.
Classified advertisements sites
You can try ad sites if you are wondering what to do with old mattresses.
Craigslist
If you want to list your mattress for donation, try craigslist. It is very easy to list your mattress here. So, once you post the ad, someone who needs your mattress will get in touch with you via the contact details you have put in the ad.
Freecycle.org
This is a place where you list all your items for free in your community. Just list the item on this platform and you are good to go, just like craigslist, whoever is interested will contact you.
Thrift Shops
If you have come across local thrift shops in your area, you can get in touch with them too. Usually, they accept mattresses. However, it is important to make a call first. Have all the dimensions and pictures handy before placing the call.
Mattress Recycling
If your mattress is not in its best condition, you can recycle your mattress. There are a lot of options you can try here, which makes mattress disposal a piece of cake. Take a look at the below-mentioned methods.
Local Recycling organizations
Some local recycling organizations that can help with recycling your mattress include;
Earth 911
Contact Earth 911 if you want to get your mattress recycled. Once you visit their website, enter the pin code and all the recycling centers in your location will pop up. Now, you can choose the one that’s near you and get in touch with them.
Bye, Bye Mattress
Another recycle option is Bye, Bye Mattress, where you again go through the same process as above. Visit their website and enter your pin code, several local options will pop up and you can choose the one that’s convenient for you.
Municipal Department
You can also check out the city’s recycling programs if nothing else is working out. You can always visit their website or call on the number given for more information.
Recycle it yourself
There are chances where you live in an area where you cannot find any recycling or donation option. Or maybe traveling is a hassle. So, if you are wondering where can I throw away a mattress for free. Well, there is another thing you can try: recycling the mattress yourself. Yes, it is oh-so-easy and can be your pet project for a while.
Separate The Mattress and The Box Spring
If you have the necessary tools, you can break down the mattress into recyclable parts and unrecyclable parts. You know the latter goes into the bin, and the former will be accepted by local recycling organizations, including your municipal department. And for spring coils, you can visit the local scrap metal dealership. So this is how to dispose of a mattress and box spring.
DIY Projects
Here comes the exciting part of mattress recycling. So, if you are thinking about how to dispose of old mattress for free? Well, DIY it to make something even better!
Pet Bed
One of the things you can do is to make a pet bed out of your old mattress. If you already own a pet bed, a second one can be great for whenever you are heading out with your furry baby. This usually works with cotton mattresses or memory foam.
- Cut the mattress as per the needed dimensions as per your pet's size
- Make sure you cut the mattress in a straight line
- Once you have cut the mattress, you will notice foamy sides. So, take a piece of fabric and sew it to the raw edges
- You can also wrap an old sheet or blanket around it if sewing is not your cup of tea or even choose fabric glue. That’s it. The bed is all ready!
Garden Seating and More
If you have a large garden, impromptu picnics are great. In fact, on lazy Sundays, you can pack a book with you while you read through it under the shade of a tree. So, you can cut the mattress to convert them into garden seating. You can also use the components for gardening. For instance, a wooden box spring can be used as compost.
Home Repair
The old memory foam mattress can be used for padding.
Home Decor
There is a lot you can do with the help of an old mattress to give your home a make-over. You can just cut your double bed in two and convert it into seating for your living room to add a boho touch. You can use the spring to make a DIY wine rack and so much more. The sky's the limit here. So give your creativity wings and think outside the box.
Junk Removal
If the above steps are not working out for you, get in touch with mattress disposal companies. Mattress removal services put your mattress in a mattress disposal bag and properly dispose of it. However, they will charge a fee for the same. They come to your location, pick up the mattress and recycle it the right way. And heavy mattresses will also need a crew.
You can also contact your old mattress company or the new mattress company as some of them offer mattress removal services to make it easier for you. Again, they may charge a small fee, but you will be able to dispose of your mattress for a nominal fee. So, how much does it cost to dispose of a mattress? Here, mattress removal costs about $75-$150.
Put Mattress in Trash
Of course, if nothing works or the mattress is damaged beyond use, you will have to put it in the trash. So, where to dump a mattress? Any special steps you must take? How to throw away a mattress? Can you take the mattress to the dump? All the questions are answered here.
When it comes to where to take an old mattress you cannot simply dump it on your curb. Several states, cities, and towns have their own regulations regarding mattress disposal. So, putting it on the curb on garbage day will just result in a fine. And each state and town will have different rules. So, make sure you simply Google it to find out how to dispose of mattresses as per your city’s rules. Carefully read it to avoid fines. This is how to get rid of a mattress for free.
How to Find a Mattress Disposal Nearby
If you want to immediately get rid of the old mattress and are wondering where can I dump a mattress, you can try mattress disposal services near you. Today, there are several waste management companies in every area that will responsibly help you in getting rid of old mattresses. If you know a local service, that’s great, otherwise, a quick internet search will help you out. However, it comes with a fee of about $20.
We hope now you know how to dispose of your old mattress hassle-free. You can give a good quality mattress to a charity to help people needy or recycle it and protect the environment. Always responsibly discard your mattress.
