Getting rid of an old mattress feels like it should be simple, and in most of the country it more or less is. But a small group of states have passed laws that change how, where, and at what cost you can dispose of one, and the rules vary enough that it is worth a two-minute check before you drag anything to the curb.
This guide walks through the states with funded mattress recycling programs, what "no law" actually means for the rest of the country, the local bed bug and dumping rules that trip people up, and how to recycle a mattress even where nothing legally requires it. Treat it as a starting map, not a substitute for your local agency's current guidance.
Why mattresses are such a disposal headache
Mattresses are one of the most awkward items in the entire waste stream. They are bulky, they do not compact, and they tend to spring back inside garbage trucks and compactors, damaging equipment and jamming machinery. Because of that, many transfer stations and landfills charge a special bulky-item surcharge, often in the range of 20 to 40 dollars per mattress, on top of any standard tipping fee.
Some landfills refuse to accept them at all, or accept them only if they are separated for recycling. That is not arbitrary. A typical mattress is roughly 80 percent or more recyclable: the steel springs can be melted down as scrap, the polyurethane foam can be repurposed into carpet padding, the wood frame can be chipped into mulch or fuel, and the cotton and fiber can be baled and reused. Left whole in a landfill, a mattress occupies a large volume of airspace for decades and returns none of that material to use, which is exactly the problem lawmakers in a few states set out to solve.
States with funded recycling programs (mattress EPR laws)
A short list of states have adopted what is known as Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, for mattresses. The idea is that manufacturers, rather than taxpayers or municipalities, fund the collection and recycling of the products they sell. In practice this is administered by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) through its consumer-facing program, "Bye Bye Mattress."
Here is how it works for you as a resident. When you buy a new mattress or box spring in one of these states, a small recycling fee is added at the point of sale (commonly a few dollars per unit). That fee funds a network of collection sites and participating recyclers, which means you can typically drop off an old mattress for free at a designated location, and some areas offer free collection events. As of 2026, the states running fully operational, funded programs are:
- California — statewide program with hundreds of free drop-off points and collection events.
- Connecticut — the first state to launch a program, with free recycling drop-off across participating sites.
- Rhode Island — statewide free drop-off through the MRC network.
Oregon has enacted a mattress stewardship program that is phasing in, so residents there should expect a recycling fee and free drop-off options to become available as the program stands up. Several other states have introduced or considered similar bills over the years, and the list of active programs can change from one legislative session to the next. If you have heard that your state "just passed" a mattress law, verify the current operational status directly rather than assuming a bill has taken effect.
What "no statewide law" means for everyone else
In the large majority of states there is no mattress-specific EPR law, and there is no purchase fee funding free recycling. That does not mean disposal is unregulated. It means a mattress is handled like any other bulky household item, and you generally pay standard fees to get rid of it. Your realistic options usually look like this:
- Transfer station or landfill drop-off — you haul it yourself and pay the bulky-item fee, often 20 to 40 dollars.
- Municipal bulk pickup — many cities collect large items on scheduled days or by appointment, sometimes included with trash service and sometimes for a per-item charge.
- Junk removal service — a crew loads and hauls it for you, typically in the range of 70 to 120 dollars for a single mattress, with pricing that scales if you are clearing out more.
- Independent recyclers — some private facilities accept mattresses for recycling for roughly 20 to 40 dollars per mattress, even in states with no program.
Because these numbers are set locally, the single most useful thing you can do is look up your own municipality. You can check your city page for local mattress fees and facilities, and if you are weighing a hauler, our pricing guide breaks down what drives the cost.
Quick reference: program states vs. general-disposal states
The table below groups states by whether a funded recycling program was operating or clearly phasing in as of this guide's 2026 update. Everything outside the first two rows falls under general bulky-item disposal rules.
| Category | States | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Funded EPR recycling programs (MRC "Bye Bye Mattress") | California, Connecticut, Rhode Island | Recycling fee added at purchase; free drop-off and collection events for residents. |
| Program enacted and phasing in | Oregon | Fee and free drop-off rolling out; confirm current availability before relying on it. |
| No statewide program (general disposal) | All other states | Pay standard bulky-item or landfill fees; use transfer stations, city bulk pickup, junk removal, or private recyclers. |
Bed bug rules and illegal dumping fines
Separate from recycling law, many cities have local rules about how a discarded mattress must be prepared, driven largely by bed bug concerns. It is common for a municipality to require that a mattress set out for curbside collection be fully wrapped and sealed in plastic before pickup. Some sanitation departments will refuse to collect an unwrapped mattress, and a few can issue a citation for setting one out improperly. Mattress-disposal bags are inexpensive and widely sold, so this is easy to comply with once you know it applies.
The more serious risk is illegal dumping. Leaving a mattress on a sidewalk, in an alley, on vacant land, or beside a dumpster you do not have rights to is treated as illegal dumping in most jurisdictions, and the fines can run from the low hundreds into the thousands of dollars, sometimes with the cost of cleanup added on top. A mattress is large, hard to move discreetly, and often traceable, so it is a poor candidate for cutting corners. Paying a modest disposal fee is almost always cheaper than the alternative.
How to recycle even where there is no law
The absence of a state program does not mean recycling is unavailable, only that it is not free or automatic. A few practical steps:
- Search the Mattress Recycling Council's site and general recycler directories for facilities near you. The MRC lists participating locations, and some accept mattresses from outside the program states.
- Call your local transfer station and ask specifically whether mattresses are separated for recycling or landfilled. Many facilities quietly divert them even without a mandate.
- Ask retailers about haul-away. When you buy a new mattress, many delivery services will remove and recycle the old one, sometimes for a small fee. This is often the simplest path.
- Check for community collection events, which some municipalities and nonprofits host a few times a year for bulky and recyclable goods.
One option that surprises people: donation is usually not on the table. Most charities, including large national thrift operations, decline used mattresses for hygiene and liability reasons, and several states restrict the resale of used bedding unless it has been sanitized and relabeled under specific rules. A nearly new mattress in excellent condition may occasionally find a taker at a local shelter or reuse organization, but do not count on donation as your default plan.
Important: mattress disposal laws, fees, and city ordinances change frequently, and this article is editorial guidance rather than legal advice. Before you rely on anything here, verify the current rules with your state environmental agency, your local sanitation or public works department, or the Mattress Recycling Council. Program availability and fees in particular can shift from year to year.
The bottom line
If you live in California, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, you have already paid into a recycling program and can very likely drop your old mattress off for free. Oregon residents should watch for their program to come online. Everywhere else, plan on a standard bulky-item fee and choose among self-haul, city bulk pickup, junk removal, or a private recycler, whichever balances cost and convenience for you. Wherever you are, wrap the mattress if your city requires it, keep it off the sidewalk unless collection is scheduled, and take two minutes to confirm the local details before you act.