The Trampoline Problem
A new trampoline is a backyard centerpiece. A broken trampoline -- ripped mat, bent frame, missing springs, safety net in shreds -- is a lawsuit waiting to happen. And unlike most yard junk, you can't just drag it to the curb. A 14-foot trampoline frame doesn't fit in a trash can, and your waste hauler isn't going to pick it up on regular collection day.
Trampolines are also one of those items that are shockingly difficult to give away. Nobody wants a used trampoline with a torn mat, even for free. A replacement mat and a new set of springs each cost real money, and by the time you're done you've spent more than a new budget trampoline costs. So removal it is.
Disassembly (It's Required)
You cannot load a fully assembled trampoline into a truck. Even a 10-foot model is too wide and too awkward. Disassembly is mandatory.
What You Need
- Spring puller tool: inexpensive at hardware stores or online. You can use pliers, but you'll hate your life after the 30th spring. A 14-foot trampoline has 90 to 110 springs.
- Socket wrench or drill: For the frame bolts connecting the leg assemblies
- Bolt cutters or reciprocating saw: For cutting the frame into transportable sections if it's too large for your vehicle
- Work gloves: Rusted springs will cut you
Disassembly Order
- Remove the safety enclosure net and poles (if present)
- Remove all springs using the spring puller -- work in a star pattern (opposite sides) to keep tension even
- Remove the jumping mat
- Remove the frame padding
- Unbolt the legs from the frame
- Separate the frame sections (most frames are 3-4 curved sections that connect with pins or bolts)
Total time: 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on size and how rusted the hardware is. Rusted springs are the biggest time sink -- sometimes they snap during removal, which is actually faster than pulling them out (just wear eye protection).
What's Recyclable
A trampoline has decent recycling potential:
- Steel frame: 100% recyclable. A 14-foot trampoline frame weighs 60 to 100 pounds of steel. Scrap value is small, but it stays out of the landfill.
- Springs: Steel, recyclable. Bag them so they don't scatter.
- Jumping mat: Made of woven polypropylene -- technically recyclable but most facilities don't accept it. Landfill in most cases.
- Frame padding: Foam and vinyl -- landfill.
- Enclosure net: Polyester or polyethylene -- landfill.
If you want to recycle the steel components, separate them from the fabric/foam components. Scrap yards want clean metal, not metal tangled in netting. Portland-area scrap yards like Schnitzer Steel and Pacific Recycling accept trampoline frames.
Professional Removal Cost
If you don't want to deal with disassembly yourself:
- Small trampoline (8-10 feet): the smallest job
- Standard trampoline (12-14 feet): a bit more, mostly for the extra springs and frame
- Large trampoline (15-16 feet) with enclosure: more again, since the net and poles come down too
- In-ground trampoline: the most, because it requires excavation
Professional removal usually includes disassembly, loading, and disposal. No need to take it apart yourself. Our crew handles trampoline removal regularly -- most take 30 to 60 minutes from start to loaded truck.
The Safety Factor
A broken trampoline is more than an eyesore -- it's a genuine safety hazard. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), trampolines cause over 100,000 emergency room visits per year. A broken one -- missing springs, torn mat, wobbly legs -- dramatically increases the risk.
If neighborhood kids can access your yard, a broken trampoline is an "attractive nuisance" under Oregon law. That means you could be liable for injuries even if the kids were trespassing. Don't wait for the mat to rip further or the frame to collapse. Get it out.
Need a trampoline removed in Oregon? Book a removal and tell us about the trampoline; we will walk you through disassembly, hauling, and disposal.
