QUICK ANSWER

A usable mattress may have a donation or reuse route. For an unwanted mattress, check your retailer, trash hauler, and California’s mattress-recycling program before paying to self-haul it.

Best options, in order

  1. Reuse only if it is genuinely clean and acceptable. Donation organizations set their own condition rules and many do not accept used mattresses. Ask before transporting it.
  2. Check a new-mattress delivery. If a retailer is delivering a replacement, ask whether removal is included, optional, or subject to preparation requirements.
  3. Ask your trash hauler about bulky pickup. Service may depend on your address, account status, appointment, and annual pickup allowance.
  4. Use a mattress-recycling location. California’s industry recycling program provides a locator and current participation rules.
  5. Self-haul to an approved facility. Confirm that mattresses are accepted and ask about per-item charges before loading.

Prepare it before pickup or drop-off

  • Keep the mattress dry and free of loose debris.
  • Ask whether it must be wrapped or left unwrapped.
  • Separate the mattress and box spring for counting.
  • Secure the load with straps and a proper vehicle.
Do not leave it beside a dumpster or on an empty lot.

A scheduled bulky-item pickup is different from placing an item at the curb without authorization. Confirm the date and placement instructions first.

Questions to ask before driving

  • Do you accept mattresses from the public today?
  • Are wet, damaged, infested, or commercial mattresses excluded?
  • Is there a per-item fee or a load minimum?
  • Do you also accept the box spring or foundation?
  • What identification, residency proof, or payment method is required?

Riverside County route

Use the WasteWayfinder search to compare the county landfill starter listings, then open the official source or call the destination. The current results are not distance-ranked.

Search Riverside County mattress options →

Sources and verification

Last reviewed July 14, 2026. Rules change; use these first-party sources for current details.