Mattresses and Box Springs

Alternative ways to recycle
Bulky Item Pick-Up / Landfill Drop-off

Republic Services has teamed up with the Mattress Recycling Council’s Bye Bye Mattress Program to allow eligible residents to drop-off old unwanted mattresses. box springs. or futons at no additional charge.

Wednesday through Saturday from 9AM-4PM households in the following cities/communities are eligible to bring 3 items per month to be recycled: cities of Richmond, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, El Cerrito and these surrounding unincorporated communities: Bayview, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Montalvin, North Richmond, Rollingwood and Tara Hills.

Drop offs will not be available if the Wednesday is on a holiday (New Year’s Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). Only whole mattresses and box springs accepted.

Items that are NOT accepted:

  • Parts of or partial mattresses or box springs
  • Excessively wet, damaged, or soiled mattresses or mattresses with bed bugs
  • Fold out sofa beds, or crib mattresses
  • Waterbeds. car beds. air mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows. mattress toppers or other furniture

Mattresses and box springs can be dropped off by eligible residents at 101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond. Please bring proper identification or utility bill with address of household generating the items. Drop-off is not available to businesses, but items can be taken to the Golden Bear Transfer Station (1 Parr Blvd. Richmond) for a fee. For more information about mattress and box spring recycling, contact the Republic Services Recycling Center at (888) 412-9277.

Don't Just Dump Them

Never dump mattresses on the side of the road. Drop them off at a landfill, or dispose of them through a mattress recycling program. It’s expensive for public agencies to pick up illegally dumped mattresses.

Alternative Ways to Recycle

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Take It to a Bye Bye Mattress Location

California state law adds a small fee to the sale of mattresses and box springs that is used to fund their collection and recycling. California residents will receive a $3 reimbursement when they recycle them at participating facilities. Learn more or find a collection site near you.

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Check Earth 911

Check Earth 911 to find mattress recycling locations near you! Simply enter the term “mattresses” and your zip code. The nearest mattress recycling center will pop up. 

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Call for Pick-Up

There are a couple of independent companies in California that will pick up old mattresses for recycling, such as Bay Area Recycle.

Donate Your Mattress

Consider taking a used mattress or box springs to St. Vincent de Paul. They will not resell mattresses for hygiene reasons, but they will recycle them. For more helpful recycling and reuse tips, read “5 Ways to Donate Your Mattress” by AmeriSleep.

Ways to Reduce

Clean Your Mattress

If you invest in keeping your mattress in good condition, you’re more likely to hold onto it long term or find a new home for it when you’re ready for a new one. Follow these tips to remove dust, stains and deodorize your mattress.

Flip or Rotate Your Mattress

Flipping or rotating your mattress can extend its life and give you a more comfortable sleep experience. Not every mattress can be flipped, but every mattress can be rotated. Learn more from Healthline.

Ways to Reuse

Sell or Give Away

Listing a mattress on Craigslist or Freecycle can save you a trip to the landfill. Old, bulky items can otherwise be difficult or pricy to transport.

Did You Know?

How Mattresses Are Recycled

Fillet the Mattress to Recycle It

St. Vincent de Paul employs workers to fillet or cut apart mattresses using a box cutter. These workers recycle approximately 170,000 mattresses per year. Compared to other mattress parts, material from “T” frame steel box springs is generally sold for the most money and lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Polyurethane from used mattresses is often recycled into wall foaming.