How to Dispose of an Old Mattress (Without Sending It to a Landfill)

Why Mattresses Are Hard to Throw Away

Every year, roughly 20 million mattresses end up in American landfills. A single mattress takes up about 40 cubic feet of space and can take decades to break down. In Oregon, most curbside trash services will not accept a mattress in your regular bin, and dumping one illegally can result in fines up to $10,000 under Oregon DEQ regulations.

The good news is that up to 90 percent of a mattress is recyclable. Steel springs, foam padding, cotton batting, and wood frames can all be separated and repurposed. You just need to know where to take it. This guide covers every legitimate option available to Oregon residents, from free donation to full-service professional hauling.

Mattress Recycling in Oregon

Oregon does not have a statewide mattress recycling law like California or Connecticut, but several facilities accept mattresses for recycling along the I-5 corridor.

Where to Recycle a Mattress in Oregon

• Metro South Transfer Station (Oregon City) — Accepts mattresses for a fee of around $15 to $25. Materials are separated and recycled when possible.
• Metro Central Transfer Station (Portland) — Similar pricing and recycling process as Metro South.
• Lane County Transfer Stations (Eugene/Springfield) — Accept mattresses at the Glenwood and Short Mountain facilities.
• Knott Landfill (Bend) — Deschutes County residents can drop off mattresses here.
• Coffin Butte Landfill (Corvallis) — Benton County's primary disposal site accepts mattresses.

What Gets Recycled

A typical innerspring mattress contains 25 pounds of recyclable steel, several pounds of foam that can be shredded for carpet padding, cotton and fiber for insulation, and a wood frame that can be chipped for mulch. Memory foam mattresses skip the steel but the foam itself is valuable to recyclers.

If you are also getting rid of the matching box spring, check out our guide on how to dispose of a box spring since many of the same recycling options apply.

Donating a Usable Mattress

If your mattress is still in decent shape — no major stains, no sagging, no bed bug history — donation is the most impactful option. Several Oregon organizations accept mattress donations.

Oregon Donation Options

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Locations in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, and Medford. They accept mattresses in good condition and offer free pickup for large items in some areas.
• St. Vincent de Paul — Multiple locations throughout the Willamette Valley. Their thrift stores resell donated mattresses to fund community programs.
• Salvation Army — Portland and Salem locations may accept mattresses, though policies vary by location. Call ahead.
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace — This nonprofit builds and delivers beds to children in need. They sometimes accept mattress donations in the Portland metro area.

Before donating, confirm the organization's current policy by phone. Many nonprofits tightened mattress acceptance standards after COVID-19, and some only accept mattresses that are less than 10 years old.

For a broader list of donation centers, see our guide on where to donate furniture and appliances in Oregon.

Hiring Professional Junk Removal

The fastest and easiest option is to hire a junk removal service. A crew comes to your home, carries the mattress out from wherever it is — upstairs bedroom, basement, apartment without an elevator — loads it, and handles disposal or recycling.

What Professional Removal Looks Like

• Cost: Typically $75 to $150 for a single mattress. Adding a box spring usually costs $25 to $50 more.
• Timeline: Same-day or next-day service is standard across Portland, Eugene, Salem, and most of the I-5 corridor.
• Physical effort required: None. The crew handles everything including navigating stairs and tight hallways.
• Eco-friendly disposal: Reputable companies sort materials for recycling. Springs, foam, fabric, and wood are separated at processing facilities.

This option is especially worthwhile if you have multiple items to get rid of at once. Many people pair mattress disposal with other bedroom furniture removal and save on the overall cost per item.

Want to understand pricing better? Our junk removal cost guide breaks down what drives pricing and how to get the best value.

Curbside Bulky Pickup

Most Oregon waste haulers offer scheduled bulky item pickup as an add-on to your regular service. You call your hauler, schedule a date, and place the mattress at the curb on the designated morning.

Major Oregon Haulers

• Waste Management — Serves much of the Portland metro area. Bulky pickups typically cost $25 to $40 per item.
• Republic Services — Covers parts of Portland, Salem, and Eugene. Similar pricing.
• Sanipac — Serves Eugene-Springfield and Lane County. Offers on-call bulky waste collection.

Pros and Cons

Curbside pickup is affordable, but you will need to get the mattress to the curb yourself, which can be a challenge for king-size or pillow-top mattresses. Scheduling can also take one to two weeks depending on demand, so plan ahead.

Self-Hauling to a Transfer Station

If you have a truck or can borrow one, self-hauling is the most affordable option after donation. Oregon transfer stations charge by weight, and a single mattress typically costs $10 to $25 to drop off.

Tips for Self-Hauling

• Secure the mattress with ratchet straps. Oregon law prohibits unsecured loads, and mattresses on the highway are a real hazard.
• Call the transfer station beforehand to confirm they accept mattresses and check their hours.
• Bring cash or a card — most stations accept both but some smaller facilities are cash-only.
• If the mattress is heavily soiled or infested, the station may charge an additional fee or refuse it.

Retailer Take-Back Programs

If you are buying a new mattress, many retailers will haul away your old one as part of the delivery. This is often the most convenient option since you are already scheduling a delivery.

• Mattress Firm — Offers old mattress removal with delivery of a new one for a fee (typically $50 to $75).
• Sleep Country (now Mattress Firm) — Same take-back program at Oregon locations.
• Costco — Offers haul-away service with mattress delivery in some areas.
• Online retailers (Casper, Purple, etc.) — Some offer removal through partnerships with local services. Check at checkout.

What NOT to Do

Do Not Dump It Illegally

Illegal dumping is a Class A violation in Oregon. Fines start at $2,500 and can reach $10,000 per incident. Beyond the legal risk, dumped mattresses attract pests, contaminate waterways, and create hazards for wildlife. Oregon DEQ actively investigates illegal dump sites, especially in rural areas outside Portland, Eugene, and Salem.

Do Not Burn It

Mattresses contain synthetic materials, flame retardants, and metal components that release toxic fumes when burned. Open burning of household waste is illegal in most Oregon jurisdictions and can trigger wildfires during dry seasons.

Do Not Leave It for Someone Else

Leaving a mattress in front of a dumpster, beside a donation bin, or in a parking lot is still illegal dumping even if your intentions are good. If a donation center is closed, take the mattress home and come back during business hours.

Cost Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a mattress in a dumpster?

Only if the dumpster is yours or you have explicit permission from the owner. Placing items in someone else's dumpster is illegal in Oregon. Even in your own dumpster, a mattress may not fit and could cause the hauler to refuse pickup.

How do I dispose of a mattress with bed bugs?

Wrap the mattress completely in plastic sheeting and seal it with tape. Label it clearly as infested. Most transfer stations will accept it but may charge an additional fee. Do not donate an infested mattress under any circumstances. Professional junk removal crews can handle infested mattresses with proper precautions.

Is mattress recycling available everywhere in Oregon?

Not yet. Recycling is most accessible in the Portland metro area, Eugene, and Salem. Rural areas may need to rely on transfer stations or professional removal. Check with your county's solid waste department for local options.

What about a mattress topper or pad?

Foam mattress toppers can often be donated or recycled separately. Thin mattress pads can usually go in your regular trash. If you are unsure about what your hauler will accept, check our guide on items you cannot throw away in regular trash.