Can You Recycle a Mattress? Yes—Here’s How in 2026

Yes, mattresses are recyclable, but most rarely end up that way. As much as 80% of a mattress can be recycled—usually the steel springs, wood frames, foam, and fabric. The tricky part is finding a facility that will actually take yours.

When you think about it, we all need sleep, and our mattresses carry the weight of years of nightly use. That bulky old box spring or memory foam pile in your guest room isn’t just a pain to move—it’s a major headache for landfills. The good news is that recycling options are growing across the US, and with a little know-how, you can keep your old bed out of the dumpster.

• Yes, mattresses are recyclable—up to 80-90% of materials can be repurposed.
• Most cities offer curbside pickup or drop-off for mattress recycling.
• Many retailers will haul away your old mattress when you buy a new one.
• Expect to pay $20 to $60 in fees for specialty recycling services.
• If recycling isn’t possible, donation and upcycling are solid eco-friendly backups.

Below, we walk you through the easiest ways to recycle your mattress, what it costs, and how to prep it for pickup. Let’s get that old bed out of your way for good.

Understanding How Mattress Recycling Actually Works

You might be surprised to learn that your old mattress is a recycling goldmine. Almost every part of it can be turned into something new. When we looked into the process, we found that recycling facilities break beds down into their basic components. Steel springs get melted down for new metal products. Wood frames become mulch or fuel. Foam turns into carpet padding or upholstery stuffing. Even the fabric can become industrial filters or insulation.

The entire process takes about two to three minutes once the mattress reaches a facility. Skilled workers use special tools to strip each layer. It’s a bit like taking apart a giant sandwich, layer by layer. Most facilities can break down up to 300 mattresses per day. That’s a lot of waste kept out of landfills.

What Happens to Each Mattress Component

Every mattress type has a slightly different breakdown process. An innerspring model has more steel and less foam. A memory foam bed is mostly polyurethane with some fabric layers. And a hybrid combines both worlds. The recycling process adapts to whatever arrives at the facility.

Here’s what we found about the most common materials:

• Steel springs go to scrap metal recyclers and become rebar or new steel products
• Wood frames get chipped into mulch or burned for clean energy
• Polyurethane foam becomes carpet underlayment or acoustic panels
• Cotton and wool are shredded for industrial absorbents
• Polyester fabric gets recycled into insulation or stuffing

The only part that usually can’t be recycled is the thin quilted top layer. That’s because it blends too many materials together. But even that small piece often ends up as alternative daily cover for landfills, which helps reduce soil erosion.

Your Options for Recycling an Old Mattress

Now that you know recycling works, let’s talk about how to actually make it happen. You have several solid choices depending on where you live and how much effort you want to put in. We found that most people don’t realize how many options exist in their own neighborhood.

Retailer Take-Back Programs

When you buy a new mattress, most major retailers offer haul-away service. They’ll take your old bed and ensure it gets recycled properly. This is usually the easiest route because you don’t have to do anything. The delivery team handles everything when they bring your new mattress.

Many experts say that buying from a retailer with a take-back program is the most convenient recycling method. The cost is often already included in the delivery fee. Just ask when you’re purchasing. You’ll know your old bed is going to be handled responsibly.

Municipal Curbside Pickup and Drop-Off Sites

More than 100 cities across the US now offer mattress recycling in their regular waste collection. A quick search of your city’s solid waste website will show you what’s available. Some towns pick mattresses up on bulk trash day. Others have designated drop-off points at transfer stations.

Many communities have started these programs because mattresses are so hard to compact in landfills. According to research from the Environmental Protection Agency, mattresses take up about 3 cubic yards of space each in a landfill. That’s why cities are eager to keep them out.

Professional Mattress Recycling Services

If your city doesn’t have a program, private companies can help. Services like Mattress Disposal Plus or similar local businesses will come to your home, pick up the mattress, and transport it to a recycling facility. You’ll typically pay between $20 and $60 for this service, depending on your location and the mattress size.

We found that many of these companies operate in larger metro areas. They often serve several surrounding counties. It’s worth calling a couple of local haulers to compare prices and availability. Some even offer discounts for multiple mattresses if you’re cleaning out a whole house.

What It Costs to Recycle Your Mattress

Cost is usually the biggest question people have. The honest answer is that it varies quite a bit. We found that most US residents pay somewhere between $20 and $60. This table breaks down the typical costs by method so you can plan ahead.

Recycling Method	Typical Cost	Pros	Cons
Retailer take-back	$0–$50	Convenient, often free	Requires buying new mattress
Municipal program	$10–$30	Low cost, local	Not available everywhere
Private service	$20–$60	Door-to-door pickup	Higher cost
Self-drop at facility	$15–$40	Transparent pricing	Requires truck and effort

Some states have started charging a small recycling fee on every new mattress sold. Connecticut, California, and Oregon were among the first to do this. The fee, usually around $10, goes toward funding recycling programs. This makes it easier for residents to recycle without extra costs at the end.

Box Springs and Adjustable Bases

Box springs are a bit different. Most of them are just a wooden frame with some fabric on top. They’re actually easier to recycle than full mattresses because there’s less material to separate. Many facilities will take your box spring at the same time as your mattress, often at no extra charge.

Adjustable bases are mostly metal and electronics. These should go to an electronics recycler instead. The motor and wiring need special handling that mattress facilities typically don’t provide.

How to Prepare Your Mattress for Recycling

Proper preparation makes the whole process smoother. Most facilities have specific requirements for what they’ll accept. We found that spending twenty minutes on prep saves you headaches later.

Cleaning and Inspection Guidelines

First, check for stains and damage. Many facilities reject mattresses with major stains or bed bugs. A clean, dry mattress is much more likely to be accepted. If your mattress has any tears, patch them with duct tape. This keeps the contents from spilling out during transport.

Remove all bedding, including sheets, pillows, and mattress protectors. These items go through a different recycling stream. Some facilities accept them separately, but they’re not part of the mattress recycling process.

The 6-Point Pre-Recycling Checklist

Before you schedule pickup or head to the facility, run through this quick checklist:

• Strip everything — remove all bedding and pillow covers
• Inspect for stains — clean heavily soiled areas if possible
• Check for pests — look for signs of bed bugs or other insects
• Tape any tears — patch rips with strong duct tape
• Confirm size — measure it so the facility knows what to expect
• Check local rules — verify whether you need to leave it loose or in a bag

Transport Tips for Self-Drop Off

If you’re transporting the mattress yourself, a pickup truck or SUV with the seats folded down works best. Tie it down securely with ratchet straps. Many facilities have a drop-off area where you just pull up and unload. Wear old clothes and gloves because the edges can be sharp where springs poke through.

Some facilities charge a small extra fee if you have a heavily soiled mattress. They have to spend extra time on decontamination. You might save money by cleaning it first.

When Recycling Isn’t Possible, Donate Instead

Not every mattress qualifies for recycling. If yours is extremely worn, stained, or has visible sagging, most facilities will turn it away. But that doesn’t mean it has to go to a landfill. Many charities and shelters accept gently used mattresses in decent condition.

Organizations like Goodwill and The Salvation Army often take used mattresses if they’re clean and have no signs of bed bugs. Some local shelters and Habitat for Humanity ReStores also accept them. We found that donation is the second-best option after recycling because it extends the life of the mattress.

Upcycling and Repurposing Ideas

If donation doesn’t work either, get creative. The wood frame from a box spring makes excellent firewood for camping trips. The foam can be cut into pet beds or craft supplies. Even the springs can be repurposed as garden trellises or photo holders.

You’d be amazed at what a little imagination can do with an old mattress. A quick search on Pinterest or YouTube shows countless projects using mattress components. It’s a fun way to keep materials out of the landfill while creating something useful.

Whatever you do, avoid just leaving it on the curb for regular trash. Many cities now have ordinances against it. And if it does end up in a landfill, it’ll take decades to break down. A little effort now saves a lot of space

Understanding the Mattress Recycling Process

Your old bed is actually a treasure chest of reusable materials. Almost 80% of a standard mattress can be reclaimed and turned into new products. Steel springs become rebar for construction projects. Wood frames get chipped into mulch for landscaping. Even the foam and fabric layers find second lives as carpet padding or industrial insulation.

We looked into how facilities handle this work. The breakdown process is surprisingly quick, taking just a few minutes per mattress once it reaches the facility. Trained workers use specialized tools to strip each layer apart. It’s a bit like unlayering a giant sandwich, piece by piece.

What Gets Recovered From a Standard Mattress

Each component of your mattress has a specific recycling path. The inner springs are the most valuable part. Facilities typically pull them out with a magnetic separator and send them to scrap metal processors. The wood frame becomes mulch or gets burned for clean energy generation.

Here’s what we found about the breakdown of materials:

• Steel springs – melted down and reformed into new metal goods
• Wood frames – chipped into landscaping mulch or biomass fuel
• Polyurethane foam – processed into carpet underlayment
• Cotton and wool layers – turned into industrial absorbent pads
• Polyester fabric – shredded for acoustic insulation panels

Even the small percentage that can’t be directly recycled gets used as alternative daily cover at landfills. That’s the soil-like material used to reduce odors and keep pests away at waste sites. Research suggests mattress recycling has grown significantly in recent years, with around 50 facilities operating across the US.

Why Recycling Mattresses Matters

Mattresses are bulky and difficult to compact in landfills. Each one takes up roughly 40 cubic feet of space. That’s about the same volume as a small refrigerator. When you realize that over 50,000 mattresses get thrown away in the US every single day, the problem becomes clear.

Many state governments have started passing mattress recycling laws. Connecticut, California, and New York now have official programs in place. These laws make it easier for residents to responsibly dispose of old beds without breaking the bank.

Your Best Options for Getting Rid of an Old Mattress

You’ve got several solid routes to recycle your mattress. The right one depends on your budget, location, and how quickly you need it gone. We found that most people have more choices than they realize.

Retailer Take-Back Programs

Conclusion

You don’t have to send your old mattress to the dump. Between retailer take-back programs, city drop-off sites, and private haulers, you’ve got real options. Most beds are 80 to 90 percent recyclable, so the effort is worth it.

Start by checking with the store where you buy your next mattress. If that doesn’t work, search for a local recycling facility or donation center near you. A quick phone call can save you hundreds of pounds of landfill waste.

Take the first step today. Look up your city’s waste management website or call a nearby recycling service. Your old mattress has value left in it, and you can make sure it gets used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recycle a mattress with bed bugs?

No, most facilities will not accept a mattress with visible bed bugs or signs of infestation. You’ll need to treat the mattress first or dispose of it through your local waste service. Check with your city about proper disposal steps for infested mattresses.

Are memory foam mattresses recyclable?

Yes, memory foam mattresses are recyclable, and they’re actually easier to process than innerspring models. The foam gets shredded and turned into carpet padding or acoustic panels. You just need to find a facility that accepts all-foam construction.

How long does it take for a mattress to break down in a landfill?

Research suggests a standard mattress can take anywhere from 50 to 100 years to fully decompose in a landfill. The steel springs take the longest since metal doesn’t break down naturally. That’s why recycling is such a smart choice for the environment.

Does Home Depot or Lowe’s recycle old mattresses?

Neither Home Depot nor Lowe’s offers mattress recycling services. You’ll want to check with mattress retailers like Mattress Firm or local furniture stores instead. Many of these shops include haul-away with a new purchase.

Can I leave my old mattress on the curb for recycling?

Only if your city has a specific curbside recycling program for bulky items. Many municipalities collect mattresses on bulk trash day, but they don’t always guarantee recycling. You’ll need to verify with your local waste department first.