You can't put a mattress or box spring in the trash in Massachusetts. Since November 1, 2022 they have to be recycled or reused, through a store pickup, a town program, a private recycler or a donation.
Key points
- The disposal ban on mattresses and textiles started November 1, 2022.
- Recycling only works if the mattress is dry and free of mold, bed bugs and bodily fluids.
- Store it indoors and dry until pickup. Open-top dumpsters and tarps don't count.
- Mattresses in excellent condition can be donated for reuse.
- Your town's health, public works or recycling department can tell you which program it uses.
The rule
Massachusetts added mattresses and textiles to its waste disposal bans on November 1, 2022. Landfills, transfer stations and waste-to-energy plants can't take them as trash. The ban is part of the state's waste ban regulation, 310 CMR 19.017, which also covers items like metal, yard waste and TVs with picture tubes. We cover the whole list in what Massachusetts bans from the trash.
Four legal options
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Retailer pickup | Many furniture and mattress sellers take the old one when they deliver a new one. Ask when you order. |
| Town program | Some towns run their own collection. Ask your health, public works or recycling department. |
| Private recycler | Companies pick up and recycle mattresses and box springs. RecyclingWorks has a Find-a-Recycler tool. |
| Donation | Only for mattresses in excellent condition, through local or national reuse programs. |
What makes a mattress unrecyclable
Recyclers take mattresses apart into scrap metal, foam, textiles and wood. According to RecyclingWorks, that only works if the mattress is dry and free of mold. Mattresses with bed bugs, mold, bodily fluids or other hazardous contamination can't be recycled. If yours has any of those, ask your town how it wants contaminated mattresses handled before you move it or book anyone.
Keep it dry until pickup
RecyclingWorks says mattresses should wait in a dry, covered place with side-door access, like a garage, storage unit or warehouse. An open-top dumpster doesn't work, even with a tarp, because rain can ruin a mattress that was otherwise fine. If it's sitting at the curb or in the yard, it's already at risk.
If you're clearing out a whole home
A mattress is usually one item among many, and the rules differ by material. Our junk removal and hauling service is built for that kind of cleanout, and the junk removal overview explains how a job works. To ask about one, request a quote or call (508) 400-5788.
Common questions
Can I leave a mattress at the curb in Massachusetts?
Only if your town runs a mattress collection and tells you to. Otherwise it's a banned item. Call your town's health, public works or recycling department to ask.
Do box springs count?
Yes. MassDEP guidance treats mattresses and box springs together, and private recyclers pick up both.
What if my mattress has bed bugs?
It can't be recycled. Ask your town how it wants infested mattresses handled, and tell any pickup service before they arrive.
Can I donate an old mattress?
Only if it's in excellent condition. Check the Beyond the Bin directory or RecyclingWorks' finder tool for outlets that accept them.
Planning a move or a cleanout?
Sources
- RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts, Recycling mattresses, retrieved 2026-09-25, https://recyclingworksma.com/how-to/materials-guidance/recycle-mattresses/
- MassDEP (mass.gov), Mattress recycling, retrieved 2026-09-25, https://www.mass.gov/guides/mattress-recycling
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, 310 CMR 19.017: Waste Bans, retrieved 2026-09-25, https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-19-017
General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm details with the agency linked above.