How to get rid of a mattress
Old mattresses are bulky, hard to fit in a car and banned from most kerbside bins, but they are also one of the most recyclable items in the home. Here are your options, from recycling to booking a pickup.
Why it is worth recycling a mattress
A single mattress is made of steel springs, foam, timber and textiles, and almost all of it can be recovered and reused. Recyclers send the steel to scrap, turn the foam into products like carpet underlay, and chip the timber. Sending a mattress to landfill wastes those materials and takes up a lot of space, because mattresses are hard to compact. Recycling first is the better environmental choice, and in most areas it is easy to arrange.
Your options for getting rid of a mattress
- Council collection: many councils offer a booked kerbside hard rubbish pickup that accepts mattresses. Check your council website for dates and limits.
- Mattress recycler: dedicated recyclers accept drop-offs for a fee and recover most of the materials.
- Retailer takeback: some retailers remove your old mattress when they deliver a new one, sometimes for a fee.
- Tip or transfer station: your local waste facility will take a mattress, though gate fees apply and you need a suitable vehicle to get it there.
- Pickup service: a service like PicUp collects it from inside your home and takes it to be recycled or disposed of responsibly.
If the mattress is clean and in good condition, some charities will accept it, but many will not for hygiene reasons, so always call ahead before donating.
How mattress recycling works
At a recycling facility the mattress is cut open and separated by hand and machine. Steel springs are baled for scrap metal, foam and fibre are compressed for reuse in products such as underlay and insulation, and the timber frame is chipped. Recovering these materials keeps a bulky item out of landfill and puts the parts back to use.
Booking a mattress pickup with PicUp
If you would rather not load a mattress onto a car or trailer, PicUp collects it for you. Haulers do the lifting and carrying from wherever the mattress is, whether that is a second-floor bedroom or the garage, and usable and recyclable items are directed to donation or recycling first. You point, they load, and you only pay for the space the mattress and anything else takes up in the truck. Add a bed frame, base or other unwanted items to the same booking and it is all handled in one trip. For a single item locally, see mattress disposal in Brisbane. Clearing more than a mattress? Our rubbish removal in Brisbane and junk removal in Brisbane services handle whole rooms at once.
What a mattress pickup costs
Costs depend on how the item is handled. A council hard rubbish collection may be included in your rates or charged as a booking, a recycler or tip charges a gate fee per mattress, and a pickup service prices on the space your items take up in the truck plus the item type and access at your address. Getting a few items collected together is better value than separate trips. There is no single fixed figure, so quote on your actual items.
How the PicUp model works
Haulers load and lift
You point, PicUp haulers carry. They handle the lifting and loading from any room, so you do not have to shift a thing.
Pay only for the space used
Pricing is based on how much room your items take up in the truck, so a few items cost less than a full load.
Donate or recycle first
Usable items are donated or recycled first wherever possible, so less ends up in landfill.
Mattress disposal FAQs
Can I put a mattress in the general rubbish bin?
No. A mattress will not fit in a standard kerbside bin and is not accepted in general waste. Use a booked hard rubbish collection, a recycler, a tip drop-off or a pickup service instead.
Are mattresses recyclable?
Yes. Most of a typical mattress, including the steel springs, foam and timber, can be recovered and reused, which is why recycling is preferred over landfill.
Does PicUp take the bed frame and base too?
Yes. Add the frame, ensemble base, headboard or any other unwanted items to the same booking. Haulers load it all and you pay for the space it uses in the truck.
How should I prepare a mattress for pickup?
Strip the bedding, and if it has been stored, give it a wipe down. If you can, stand it near the door, though PicUp haulers are happy to carry it out from wherever it is.
Ready to clear that mattress?
Tell PicUp what you need gone and your address, and haulers load it for you, with recyclable materials handled first. You only pay for the space your items use in the truck.