Mattress Disposal in NYC 2024 – How to Get Rid of a Mattress

10 Ways to Remove An Old Mattress

You're in need of mattress disposal in NYC as your mattress feels saggy or lumpy? While buying a new mattress is great, it can be a hassle having to recycle and get rid of your old, saggy mattress — especially in big cities like New York City. Luckily, there are tons of different ways to get mattress disposal in NYC or anywhere. 

1. Bulky Waste Pickup 

Many cities, counties, and towns offer bulky waste pick up to their citizens. When you are looking for a mattress disposal option in your area, bulky waste pickup can be one of the better options. With this option, the most difficult you have is making a phone call and hauling your mattress out to the curb.

Resources NYC: NYC Bulky Waste Pickup

2. Recycle the Mattress

For mattress owners trying to lower their ecological footprint, mattress recycling may be a good idea. While you can theoretically, break your mattress down yourself and recycle the parts, that can be a time-consuming task. With a mattress recycling company, they will pick up your mattress for you and recycle it using their own resources. There may be a fee for this service.

Resources NYC: Renewable Recycling Inc is one well-known recycling solution for New Yorkers

3. Mattress Removal Service

There are many companies that exist with a specific purpose — to help people get rid of their old mattresses. These companies will come to pick up your old mattress and will either repurpose, recycle or otherwise dispose of your mattress for you. This is probably the easiest option on the list, although it does typically cost money. Mattress removal can cost anywhere between $75 and $150, although it could cost more depending on your location.

Resources NYC: 

• Mattress Disposal Plus is a mattress disposal company serving NYC and most of the US except for Wyoming.
• Junk King also serves NYC and much of the US.
• College Hunks performs mattress removal in 134 locations in the United States including NYC.

4. Dumpster Rental

If you recently had a big renovation or move that culminated in you buying a new mattress and now you need to dispose of the old mattress as well as other items, try a dumpster rental. These companies will bring you a dumpster to fill with whatever you want and haul it away. Typically, it can cost anywhere between $200 and $1000, depending on the size you rent. Be careful not to overload the dumpster or that can cause problems with removal.

Resources NYC: 

• Budget Dumpster is an affordable dumpster rental service serving all 5 counties of NYC.
• Economy Container serves Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the rest of NYC.
• Royal Waste provides dumpster rental for NYC metropolitan area.

5. Junk Removal Service

If you found dumpster rental an attractive idea but don’t feel like doing it yourself, you can always try a Junk removal service. These services will have people come to your home for a fee, typically between $150 and $350, and professionally remove your mattresses and anything else you might need them to take.

Resources NYC: 

• Junk Removal Management serves all five boroughs and Long Island.
• Jiffy Junk provides junk removal service to NYC and other major metropolitan areas.
• Remove My Junk serves all five boroughs of NYC as well as Westchester, Essex, and Suffolk Counties.

6. Donate Them to Charity

Many charities, including some animal shelters, will accept your used mattress provided it isn’t excessively dirty or in very poor condition. These places typically either use them in their own shelter, for their own purposes or to resell them to raise funds for their programs. Most nationwide charities will not accept mattresses due to the many differences in local laws surrounding them, so it is best to check with local charities in your area.

Resources NYC: In NYC the Salvation Army accepts used mattresses as donations.

7. Contact the Manufacturer

Many manufacturers have taken up the task of handling mattress disposal for their customers. Sometimes they will do it without you having to repurchase a mattress from them; however, some will only recycle your mattress for you if you are having a new mattress delivered.

Resources NYC: To make use of this service contact your specific brand’s customer service department.

8. Online Marketplaces

There are a number of online marketplaces that will allow you to sell or give away your old used mattress to a willing person. While you can easily use Facebook’s Marketplace for selling or giving away your old mattress, there are other options available.

Resources NYC: 

• Craigslist is typically used by New Yorkers to list their mattresses for free.
• Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook buy and sell groups are great for giving away or selling your mattress.
• Letgo is an online marketplace serving most areas

9. Break It Down for Parts

Depending on your time constraints and space, you can break down your used mattress for parts. You can recycle old wooden frames from a box spring and, after removing the fabric and batting, you can take the metal from a spring mattress to a scrap yard and receive a few dollars for your time and effort. 

Resources NYC: You can search Google to find a scrap metal yard near you.

10. The Landfill - Throw Your Mattress Away

If you have the vehicle resources available to bring your mattress to the local landfill, this option can be optimal for removing your mattress from your home at your leisure. While many landfills will accept any item, some only accept a small list of hazardous waste items so it’s important to make sure they will accept your item before making the trip.

Resources NYC: Unfortunately NYC’s Drop-off sites do not accept mattresses at this time. 

Local Rules for Mattress Disposal

If you’re looking for mattress disposal in NYC and choose the city’s bulky collection option, there are a lot of rules that you will need to follow. In some cities and towns, there are very few rules that come with ridding your home of a used mattress. 

Typically rules for local garbage bulky waste pickup related to mattress disposal require you to notify your city’s waste management office that you need removal; however, for NYC you need to do more than just notify your local office.

In NYC due to a bed bug epidemic, mattresses that require disposal must be sealed in a plastic bag. Should you neglect to seal your used mattress in a plastic bag the city will give you or your landlord a fine. To fully understand the rules check with your local trash disposal rules and regulations.

Mattress Disposal New York City

When looking for mattress disposal in NYC, one of the easiest ways is to contact the NYC Department of Sanitation and have them pick up your mattress for you.

There are a few rules to remember for this simple process:

• You must make an appointment for mattresses larger than 4ft by 3ft.
• Only 10 items per pickup request.
• Appointments cannot be made on city holidays or days where service is suspended due to snow collection.
• Next-day appointments must be scheduled by midnight the previous day.
• Mattresses and box springs must be placed in a plastic bag to prevent the spread of bed bugs.
• Bags can be any color except for red or orange.
• All sizes of mattresses are taken (twin, twin xl, full, queen, king, California king).
• Items must be placed on the curb or in the alley between 4 PM and midnight the day before the appointment.

There's a lot to learn about mattress and box spring disposal for New York City. If you’d like to schedule your pickup you can do so either by contacting 311 by telephone or by using their online portal. If you have any further questions you can contact the NYC Department of Sanitation at 212-639-9675.

How Long Should Your Mattress Last?

A mattress should last between 8 to 10 years. This is dependent upon the type of mattress you have and how well you treat it.

For the various types of mattresses their life span is as follows:

• Innerspring mattresses last for 7 to 10 years
• Memory foam mattresses last for 10 to 15 years
• Gel foam mattresses last 10 to 15 years
• Latex mattresses last up to 15 years
• Hybrid mattresses last up to 10 years

There are a number of tips that experts have agreed will help to prolong the lifespan of your mattress.

Tips for Prolonging The Life of Your Mattress

A mattress is an expensive investment and can cost thousands of dollars.

To keep sleeping as well as you did that very first night, try to follow the tips below:

• Use a mattress protector to keep from voiding your warranty and keep spills from ruining your mattress.
• Use a properly supported frame or platform to ensure even mattress wear.
• Don’t allow jumping on the bed as it places unnecessary pressure on the mattress, box spring, and bed frame.
• Rotate your mattress every two to three months, 180 degrees if you only sleep on one side, 180 degrees, and flipped over if two-sided.
• Vacuum the mattress twice a year to prevent the buildup of dust, sweat, and allergens.
• When moving a mattress encase it in plastic to avoid dust, dirt, and bed bugs.

Visit the SleePare Showroom in NYC

With all the new available mattresses on the market, there’s no reason to suffer all night on a worn one, visit SleePare’s mattress store in New York City and book an appointment today. 

More Resources

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