Mattress Disposal & Donation Guide
Last Updated on July 5, 2025
by Marc Werner, Founder - GhostBed
Mattress Donation
& Disposal Guide
The Best Way to Remove Your Old Mattress
Start Enjoying Your New Mattress Now.
1
Evaluate Mattress Condition
To make an educated decision on how to handle a mattress disposal it is important to evaluate the condition of the bed. One should look for stains, rips, frayed fabric and edges, and compression. If the mattress is in fairly-good shape, then selling or donating could be options. When the bed looks like it has seen better days then one will need to arrange for mattress disposal or recycling. Of course, any mattress with bedbugs will need to be disposed of.
2
Mattress Donation Options
There are several options one can consider for where to donate a mattress that still has life in it. Donating a mattress allows for one to give back to society, and may even give one a tax write-off.
OPTION 1: Thrift Shops and Charities
National charities, as well as local ones, often have their own thrift stores in which they will take mattress donations. These charities will either resell the mattress or find someone struggling financially in need of a bed. As every service has their own policies one should contact each charity and service to see if they accept mattresses and can arrange pick-up. Here are a few national resources to consider for mattress donation:
Habitat for Humanity
Restores has home improvement stores throughout the nation. They sell building supplies and furnishings. All proceeds go to help Habitat’s work in the community and world. Each location is unique in what donations they may accept.
Salvation Army
has long been around to aid those in need. They have many thrift stores where they sell furnishings and clothes.
Donation Town
is a wonderful resource that helps locate a charity that will accept a mattress donation as well as clothes and other household items. This service arranges for free pickup.
Furniture Bank Assosiation
works to find items like mattresses, and other furnishings, that people want to donate to someone else who needs it but lacks financial stability to purchase.
OPTION 2: Places of Worship and Shelters
Local places of worship as well as local shelters often welcome mattress donations for those they know who are in need of a place to lay a weary head. Some may be able to arrange a pick-up while others will ask one to arrange to drop off.
3
Mattress Recycling How-Tos
Recycling a mattress means one is helping the environment by preventing a mattress to be destined as landfill. Whether finding a recycling center or using the DIY approach it is a fairly easy task to recycle a mattress.
OPTION 1: Find Recycling Center
With so many recycling centers now working to improve Earth’s wellbeing there may be a local one that will accept large items like a mattress. Make some calls to see if there is a center close by that will take a bed.
There are online resources available to aid one in finding a center for mattress disposal:
Bye Bye Mattress allows one to input their zip code to find a facility
Mattress Disposal Plus operates in 30 metro markets in the U.S. and are in just about every major city in the country. They have a great reputation for being customer focused and convenient.
OPTION 2: DIY Recycling
For those who like a hands-on approach, or are looking for a family endeavor, it can be a fun task to rip the mattress apart for a DIY activity. One can even make some extra cash when selling any metal parts, such as coils, for scrap. Once the mattress is taken apart, the individual recyclable pieces can easily be moved to a recycling facility. Although this task may take a bit of time it can save the money it may cost to haul away the entire mattress. Parts that will end up separated can be: a wood frame, steel springs, polyurethane foam, and other types of foam. Video how-tos are available to help guide on the deconstruction of a mattress.
OPTION 3: Creative Repurposing
When tearing apart the mattress one may feel their minds start working with imaginative ideas on what the mattress parts can be repurposed for. Foam can be used as a padding for a pet bed. Springs can be repurposed to create a wine rack or plant pot holder. Have fun with using imagination to reuse parts from the old mattress.
4
Mattress Selling Tips
Selling a gently used mattress can be a great option to make a bit of extra cash while getting someone else to pay to haul away the old bed. Offer it for cash or free. Even if giving away one may still be ahead by not having to pay to have it hauled.
Tip 1: Sell Locally
Call friends and family to see if anyone is in need of the mattress that is seeking a new owner. Word of mouth often will help find the bed a new home in a quick fashion.
Tip 2: Sell Online
The mattress can also be posted to offer it for cash or free on a local Facebook page, Craigslist or the OfferUp App
5
Mattress Disposal Choices
When there is no other possibility it is time to look at the several mattress disposal options left. From town waste services to paying to haul the mattress away there is an option to remove the old bed before the new one arrives.
Waste Disposal Service
Many towns and cities offer waste disposal services for those who live in the municipalities. Simply call the Department of Waste Management to find out if this is an option, and if so, how to arrange for a pick-up. This service is often free or at a very low charge.
Hauling Away
One may not have any recourse but to hire a company to haul the mattress away to a dump, recycling center or a charity. Discuss this with the company that the new mattress is being purchased from as they may be able to help arrange to take the old mattress for a small fee. Many local moving companies provide services to pick up and haul away a mattress. 1-800-Got-Junk? and College Hunks Hauling Junk both offer mattress removal at a minimal charge.
Dumpster
One advantage to living in a larger apartment complex is the use of dumpsters. This could be a viable option to toss the mattress as long as it will fit inside the dumpster and not be sitting on the ground next to it.
Marc Werner
Founder - GhostBed
Marc has spent the last two decades designing & manufacturing mattresses and other sleep products, drawing on a lifetime of experience working with the material sciences. With several patents to his name, he works closely with the GhostBed team to create products with the perfect balance of comfort & support. Learn More
