Mattress Disposal in Phoenix: Your Complete Options Guide (2026)

Mattresses present unique disposal challenges:

- **Size and weight:** A king-size mattress can weigh 100–150 lbs and doesn't fit in a standard vehicle - **Landfill space:** A single mattress takes up about 40 cubic feet in a landfill. With Maricopa County's population growth (over 4.5 million residents and climbing), landfill space is a genuine concern - **Not recyclable through regular channels:** You can't put a mattress in your blue recycling bin - **Illegal dumping magnet:** Mattresses are one of the most commonly illegally dumped items in Phoenix — you'll see them in alleys, desert lots, and along canal banks throughout the Valley

The City of Phoenix's bulk trash program accepts mattresses at no additional charge.

**How it works:** - Place your mattress curbside during your designated bulk trash collection week - Collection happens on a rotating schedule — each neighborhood gets a pickup approximately every 4–5 weeks - Look up your schedule at Phoenix.gov/PublicWorks or call 602-262-7251

**Pros:** - Completely free - No effort beyond getting the mattress to the curb

**Cons:** - You may wait up to 5 weeks for your collection window - Mattresses sitting curbside absorb moisture during monsoon season (July–September), becoming waterlogged and breeding mold - Scavengers frequently tear apart mattresses looking for metal springs, leaving stuffing and fabric scattered across your yard - HOAs in communities like Anthem, Estrella Mountain Ranch, and Desert Ridge may fine you for having a mattress visible at the curb before collection day - The mattress goes straight to the landfill — no recycling

**Best for:** Budget-conscious residents who can time their disposal with their bulk trash schedule and don't mind the wait.

Dropcurb offers on-demand curbside mattress pickup across the Phoenix metro area.

**How it works:** - Book online at Dropcurb.com - Place your mattress at the curb on your pickup day - Dropcurb removes it — typically within 24–48 hours of your scheduled pickup

**Pricing:** - **First item (mattress):** $79 - **Box spring (additional item):** +$29 (standard size add-on) - **Mattress + box spring total:** $108

If you're also getting rid of the bed frame, headboard, or other bedroom furniture, additional items are $19 (small), $29 (standard), or $39 (large).

**Pros:** - Pick your own timeline — no waiting weeks for bulk trash - No heavy lifting beyond getting it to the curb - No need to be home - Significantly cheaper than full-service haulers ($200+)

**Cons:** - You need to get the mattress to the curb yourself - Not free (but neither is your time or sanity)

**Best for:** Anyone who needs a mattress gone within a few days and wants an affordable, hassle-free option.

Up to 90% of a mattress can be recycled — steel springs become scrap metal, foam becomes carpet padding, cotton becomes industrial rags, and wood frames are chipped for mulch. Phoenix has a few options for mattress recycling:

Arizona does not currently have a statewide mattress recycling law like California or Connecticut. However, the Mattress Recycling Council (the organization behind the "Bye Bye Mattress" program) has been expanding its reach. Check ByeByeMattress.com for the latest drop-off locations in Arizona.

Several Valley businesses handle mattress recycling:

- **SR Recycling** — A Phoenix-based company that processes various materials including mattress components. Located in the industrial corridor near south Phoenix, SR Recycling handles scrap metal recovery from mattress springs.

- **Western Mattress Recycling** — Serves the Phoenix metro area and processes mattresses for component recovery. They accept both residential and commercial mattresses.

- **Eco-Friendly Mattress Recycling** — Several smaller operators in the Valley offer mattress breakdown and recycling services for a fee, typically $25–$50 per mattress.

**Important note:** Most mattress recyclers in Phoenix charge a fee (typically $20–$50 per mattress) and require you to deliver the mattress to their facility. Some offer pickup for an additional fee.

**Pros:** - Environmentally responsible — keeps materials out of landfills - Supports the circular economy in Arizona

**Cons:** - You usually need to transport the mattress yourself - Costs $20–$50+ per mattress - Limited locations — most are in south Phoenix or the west Valley industrial areas - Not all recyclers accept mattresses in poor condition (stained, bedbug-infested, heavily damaged)

**Best for:** Environmentally conscious residents who have transportation and want to keep their mattress out of the landfill.

If your mattress is in good condition — no major stains, tears, or structural damage — donation is the best option. It's free, helps someone in need, and keeps items out of the landfill.

**St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Phoenix** SVdP is one of the largest charitable organizations in the Phoenix metro area, operating multiple thrift stores, a dining room, a medical clinic, and housing services.

- **Accepts:** Clean mattresses in good condition (no stains, no tears, no bed bugs) - **Pickup:** Offers free pickup for qualifying furniture and large donations in the Phoenix metro area - **Locations:** Multiple thrift stores across the Valley, including their main campus near downtown Phoenix on Watkins Rd - **Schedule pickup:** Call their donation line or visit SVdP's website

**Habitat for Humanity ReStore** - Generally does NOT accept mattresses due to hygiene concerns - Focus is on building materials, fixtures, and appliances

**Salvation Army Phoenix** - Accepts clean mattresses in good condition - Offers free pickup for qualifying donations - Multiple Valley locations

**Arizona Helping Hands** - Specifically focuses on helping foster children in Arizona - Accepts gently used mattresses, particularly twin and full sizes for children - Located at their warehouse in the east Valley

**Pros:** - Free - Tax-deductible - Helps people in your community

**Cons:** - Mattress must be in good condition — most charities reject stained, damaged, or infested mattresses - Pickup scheduling may take several days to a couple of weeks - You may need to deliver smaller mattresses yourself

**Best for:** Residents with gently used mattresses who can wait a few days for pickup.

If you can't move the mattress yourself — maybe it's on the second floor of an apartment, or you have physical limitations — a full-service junk removal company will come inside, carry it out, and haul it away.

- **1-800-GOT-JUNK:** $200+ minimum. They'll come inside, carry the mattress out, and load it. Same-day service often available in Phoenix. - **College Hunks Hauling Junk:** $150+ minimum. Similar full-service approach with locations across the Valley. - **Junk King Phoenix:** $150+ minimum. Locally owned franchise with a focus on recycling and donation.

**Pros:** - Full service — they do all the lifting - Can handle second-floor apartments, tight stairwells, etc. - Same-day availability in many cases

**Cons:** - Most expensive option ($150–$250 for a single mattress) - You're paying for the convenience of not moving it to the curb yourself

**Best for:** Anyone physically unable to move the mattress to the curb, or dealing with difficult access situations.

If you have a truck or can borrow one, you can take the mattress to a Phoenix transfer station yourself.

- **27th Avenue Transfer Station:** 2727 W. Lower Buckeye Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85009 - **North Gateway Transfer Station:** 34640 N. Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85331

**Fees:** Residential self-haul starts around $33–$40 per ton (minimum charge applies). A single mattress will likely hit the minimum charge.

**Hours:** Monday–Saturday, typically 6 AM to 5 PM (verify current hours before going)

**Pros:** - Get rid of it today - Can combine with other items for one trip

**Cons:** - Need a truck or large SUV - Physical labor to load and unload - Fuel costs and time - Mattress goes to landfill, not recycled

**Best for:** DIY-ers who already have other items to drop off and own a truck.

Illegal dumping is a significant problem in Phoenix, particularly in:

- Desert areas south and west of the city - Canal banks along the Arizona Canal, Grand Canal, and other SRP waterways - Vacant lots in south and west Phoenix - Alleyways in older central Phoenix neighborhoods

Illegal dumping in Phoenix can result in fines of **$300–$2,500** for a first offense and up to **$2,500+** for repeat violations. The city actively investigates illegal dumping through the Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department and has cameras at known dumping hotspots.

Report illegal dumping through the **Phoenix 311 app** or by calling **602-262-7251**.

Most Phoenix apartment complexes prohibit placing mattresses in communal dumpsters. Doing so can result in:

- Fines from your property management - Charges deducted from your security deposit - The mattress being pulled out and left next to the dumpster, creating a worse problem

If you're moving out of an apartment in Phoenix, talk to your property manager about approved mattress disposal options. Some complexes schedule periodic bulk pickups or have designated large-item disposal areas.

Some people try to cut mattresses apart to fit them in regular trash bins. This is:

- Extremely difficult (mattress springs are sharp and hard to cut) - Messy (foam and batting goes everywhere) - Potentially dangerous (spring coils under tension can snap and cause injury) - Against city rules if material doesn't fit properly in your container with the lid closed

Just don't. It's not worth the effort or the risk.

| Method | Cost | Timeline | Effort Level | |---|---|---|---| | Phoenix Bulk Trash | Free | 1–5 week wait | Low (curb it) | | Dropcurb | $79 (mattress only) / $108 (mattress + box spring) | 1–3 days | Low (curb it) | | Donation Pickup | Free | 3–14 days | Low | | Recycling Facility | $20–$50 | Same day | High (transport) | | Transfer Station | $33–$40 | Same day | High (transport + load) | | Full-Service Hauler | $150–$250 | Same day | None |

If you're putting a mattress out for bulk trash between July and September, wrap it in plastic sheeting. Phoenix monsoons can dump inches of rain in minutes, and a waterlogged mattress becomes a 300-lb nightmare that the city may refuse to collect.

Many Phoenix mattress retailers offer old mattress removal when you buy a new one:

- **Mattress Firm** (multiple Valley locations) — Often includes removal with delivery - **Sleep Number** (Scottsdale, Chandler, Glendale locations) — Removal available with new purchase - **Costco/IKEA** — Check current delivery policies for haul-away options

This is often the easiest solution if you're replacing rather than just disposing.

Phoenix's warm climate makes it a hotspot for bed bugs. If your mattress has (or might have) bed bugs:

- **Do NOT donate it** — You'll spread the infestation - **Do NOT put it out for bulk trash uncovered** — Scavengers may take it and spread bed bugs - **Wrap it completely in a mattress disposal bag** before putting it out for any type of pickup - **Label it "BED BUGS"** to warn others

Mattress disposal bags are available at Home Depot, Lowe's, and U-Haul locations throughout Phoenix for $5–$15.

For most Phoenix residents, the decision comes down to two factors: **how quickly you need it gone** and **how much effort you want to put in**.

- **No rush + no cost:** Use the city's bulk trash program - **Need it gone soon + minimal effort:** Book Dropcurb ($79) - **Mattress is in good shape:** Donate to St. Vincent de Paul or Salvation Army - **Want it gone today + don't mind paying more:** Call a full-service hauler ($150+) - **Environmentally focused:** Find a local mattress recycler ($20–$50 + transport)

[Book mattress pickup in Phoenix with Dropcurb — $79 →]