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Mattress Recycling

The City of Boston requires an appointment for collection of all mattresses and box springs. If you live in a building with six units or less, please dial 3-1-1 or 617-635-4500 to schedule your appointment.

Recycling mattresses is a state (Department of Environmental Protection) requirement as of November 1, 2022. The City of Boston will accept memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid, latex, and airbed. We will not accept futons and other similar non-mattress items, those items may be placed out for curbside trash collection. 

More than 75 percent of your unwanted mattresses and box springs are recyclable. After collection, mattresses and box springs will be donated for reuse or recycled. These materials will be used to make insulation, carpet padding, mulch, and new metal items.

The City of Boston residential mattress program does not service residential buildings with more than six (6) units.  Please consult your property manager on the proper protocol for recycling mattresses in your building.

How to Prepare Your Mattress for Collection

  1. Place your mattress on the curb by 6am on the day of your appointment.
  2. Make sure your mattress is not blocked by vehicles and other waste receptacles. Do not place anything on top of the mattress.
  3. Do not crush or cut your mattress or box spring for collection.
  4. Mattresses that are soiled, dirty, or have bed bugs must be bagged. Mattress bags can be found at your local hardware store or ordered online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

You can search for local mattress recycling haulers using the Recycling Works Directory. Here are some local mattress recyclers. 

  1. HandUp Mattress Recycling & Upcycling
  2. Classic Cleanouts
    • Junk hauling service, pick-up service
    • Phone: 781-558-2626
  3. Green Mattress
  4. Raw Material Recovery Corp.

If you are a mattress recycling hauler and would like to be added to this list, please email 311@boston.gov

If an appointment is not scheduled your mattress will not be collected. Please call 311 to schedule your appointment.

After your mattress is collected curbside, it is sent to our recycling partner at Casella Waste Systems. After it is unloaded, it is placed on a platform where employees deconstruct the mattress by hand, slicing open the mattress and pulling out the different components for recycling. Metal springs, foam, textile, and wood are all deconstructed and bailed to be sent to their final recycling location. 

If it is supposed to rain or snow on your scheduled collection day, wait until the morning to place your mattress curbside. Please have mattresses out by 6 a.m, rain or snow. If there is inclement weather, consider bagging up your mattress to ensure it is able to be fully recycled.

Please call 311 if you miss your mattress collection appointment, or if you put your mattress out on your scheduled day and it was not collected. 

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