Quick answer: To dispose of a mattress in NYC, seal it in a plastic bag (any color except red or orange) and place it at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before your regular trash collection day. Failure to bag a mattress correctly can result in a fine of up to $300 from the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY). The pickup is free. If you cannot get the mattress to the curb yourself, a private junk removal service costs $79 to $150 in NYC.
Disposing of a mattress in NYC is governed by strict rules from the Department of Sanitation. Bag it correctly and the city picks it up for free on your regular trash day. Get it wrong and you face a fine of up to $300, plus the mattress stays on your sidewalk until you fix it. This guide covers the 2026 DSNY rules, the four disposal options you have (curbside, recycling, donation, junk removal), and how to bag a mattress correctly so you do not get a ticket.
We have been moving New Yorkers since 1983. Every move involves mattresses being unloaded, replaced, or hauled away, so the disposal logistics are part of our daily work. The information below is what we tell our own customers.
DSNY Rules for Mattress Disposal in 2026
The NYC Department of Sanitation collects mattresses and box springs for free, but only if you follow the rules. Here is what changed for 2026:
- Mattresses and box springs must be fully sealed in a plastic bag before being placed at the curb. The bag can be any color except red or orange (those are reserved for medical waste). Source: NYC Department of Sanitation.
- Fines for non-compliance go up to $300 per the official DSNY rule, escalating with repeat offenses ($50 first, $100 second, $200 third, $300 thereafter within a 12-month window).
- Set-out window is 6 PM to midnight the night before your scheduled trash collection day. Not recycling day.
- No appointment is needed. DSNY no longer offers scheduled bulk pickup appointments. Mattresses go out on your regular trash day with up to 6 large items per collection.
- Bedbug labeling required. If the mattress had bedbugs, label it clearly with a “BED BUGS” notice in addition to bagging it. This protects sanitation workers and neighbors.
- DSNY will not enter your building. You are responsible for getting the mattress from your apartment to the curb.
If the mattress is not bagged correctly, sanitation workers will refuse it and leave it on the sidewalk. After that, you risk additional fines for sidewalk obstruction.
How to Bag a Mattress in 6 Steps
Bagging a mattress is the single most important step. Here is how we do it on every move:
- Buy a heavy-duty plastic mattress bag. Available at Home Depot ($8 to $15), Amazon ($6 to $12), or U-Haul ($6 to $10). Match the bag size to the mattress (twin, full, queen, king). Avoid red and orange bags.
- Clear your hallway and elevator path first. Mattresses are awkward to carry. Decide your route from the bedroom to the curb before you start.
- Stand the mattress on its long edge against a wall. This makes bagging much easier than working flat on the floor.
- Slide the bag over the mattress from one end. Pull it down until the entire mattress is enclosed. If the bag is slightly short, cover the gap with commercial stretch wrap.
- Seal every opening with heavy-duty tape. No part of the mattress should be exposed. Reinforce the seams.
- Move the bagged mattress to the curb during the 6 PM to midnight window the night before trash day. Do not block pedestrian paths, driveways, or your neighbor’s stoop.
If you cannot lift the mattress (walk-up apartment, no elevator, mobility limitations), skip the curbside route and book a junk removal service or hire movers to handle it. The comparison table below shows when each option makes sense.
NYC Mattress Disposal Options Compared
You have four practical options for getting rid of a mattress in NYC. Here is what each one costs, takes, and works best for.
| Option | Cost | Effort on you | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSNY curbside pickup | Free | High: bag, lift, carry to curb | Healthy mattress owners with no walk-up and no time pressure |
| Bye Bye Mattress recycling | Free to ~$25 | Medium: must transport to facility | Eco-conscious residents near a participating center |
| Donation (Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Furniture Bank) | Free (some offer free pickup) | Low to medium: mattress must be in excellent condition | Clean, like-new mattresses with no stains, tears, or bedbugs |
| Private junk removal (1-800-GOT-JUNK, Dropcurb, College Hunks) | $79 to $150 | None: they handle bagging and removal | Walk-ups, urgent timing, post-move haul-out, multiple items |
Most NYC residents pick DSNY curbside if the mattress is in usable shape and the building has an elevator. For walk-ups, fourth-floor exits, or same-day removal during a move, the $79 to $150 spent on a junk removal service usually pays for itself in time and physical effort saved.
Donation: Best Option for Quality Mattresses
A mattress in donation-quality condition can find a new home with a New York family in need. The bar is strict: most charities will not accept a mattress unless it meets every criterion below.
Donation criteria (most NYC nonprofits require all of these):
- No stains of any kind (including water marks)
- No tears, holes, or worn fabric
- No structural damage to springs, frame, or foam
- No history of bedbugs, mold, or pet damage
- Manufactured within the last 10 years
- Box spring included where applicable
Organizations that accept mattress donations in NYC:
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Free pickup for qualifying items.
- Salvation Army: Free pickup available at some locations. Inspection on pickup, so mattresses can be refused on the doorstep if they fail criteria.
- Furniture Bank Association of America: Provides furniture to families exiting homelessness. May offer pickup within a specific radius.
- City Furniture Bank (NYC): Local nonprofit serving Bronx and Brooklyn families. Generally accepts only mattresses under 5 years old.
Before donating, call the organization. Mattress donation is harder than furniture donation, and some chapters of the same nonprofit have different policies. If your mattress does not meet donation criteria, recycling or curbside disposal is the responsible path. See our full guide on donating old things in NYC for more options.
Recycling: Eco-Friendly but Limited in NYC
Approximately 75% of mattress materials can be recycled: steel springs, foam, fabric, and wood frame components. Sending a mattress to a recycling facility keeps these materials out of landfills.
Bye Bye Mattress is the main consumer-facing program for mattress recycling in the US, run by the Mattress Recycling Council. New York State does not currently have a fee-funded recycling program (unlike California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), so NYC residents have fewer free drop-off options than people in those states. The closest free Bye Bye Mattress facilities to NYC are in New Jersey and Connecticut.
For NYC-based recycling:
- Public Lands Solid Waste Facility (Bronx): Accepts mattresses for a fee. Call 311 for current pricing.
- Private mattress recycling centers: Several operate in Queens and Brooklyn. Pricing typically $15 to $25 per mattress. Search “mattress recycling near me” or check the Mattress Recycling Council directory.
If you are moving long-distance with us and want to recycle your old mattress at the destination, ask your move coordinator. Some long-distance routes pass through states with free Bye Bye Mattress drop-offs. See Moishe’s moving out-of-state guide for the full process.
Resell or Give It Away
If your mattress is still in good condition but you cannot find a donation center that will take it, consider selling it online. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp are popular for listing used mattresses. Alternatively, you can offer it free on these sites to save disposal costs.
When reselling, provide clear pictures and a detailed description of the mattress’s condition. This transparency helps you find interested buyers faster. Moishe’s how to move cross country guide can be a helpful resource for those moving long distances.
How Much Does It Cost to Dispose of a Mattress in NYC?
The cost of mattress disposal in NYC ranges from $0 to $150 depending on the route you pick.
- DSNY curbside pickup: Free. Your only out-of-pocket cost is the plastic mattress bag ($6 to $15).
- Bye Bye Mattress recycling: Free at participating drop-off centers, though some private recycling facilities charge $10 to $25 per mattress to cover dismantling.
- Donation: Free if accepted. Some nonprofits (Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore) offer free pickup; others require you to bring the mattress to their location.
- Private junk removal: $79 to $150 per mattress in NYC. Pricing depends on building access (walk-up vs elevator), pickup window (same-day vs scheduled), and whether the mattress needs to be bagged on site.
- Full-service movers: If you are already booking a move, ask whether mattress removal can be added to your invoice. We include mattress haul-out on most moves at no extra labor cost when it is removed during the same crew’s visit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
We see these mistakes every week on customer moves. Each one is avoidable.
- Leaving the mattress unbagged or partially bagged. Sanitation workers will refuse it and DSNY enforcement will issue a fine. The bag must fully enclose the mattress and be sealed.
- Using a red or orange bag. Those colors are reserved for medical waste. Sanitation will not collect a mattress in red or orange.
- Setting the mattress out on the wrong day. Mattresses go out on your regular trash day, not recycling day. Check your collection schedule at nyc.gov/dsny or call 311.
- Setting it out before 6 PM. Items placed out earlier risk sidewalk obstruction tickets. The set-out window is strictly 6 PM to midnight the night before collection.
- Donating a mattress that does not meet criteria. Charities will refuse it on pickup, and you will be stuck with both the original disposal problem and the embarrassment.
- Forgetting the bedbug label. If the mattress had bedbugs at any point, label it. This is required by NYC law and protects sanitation workers from exposure.
- Trying to dispose of more than 6 large items on one day. DSNY limits curbside pickup to 6 large items per collection day. Spread larger quantities across multiple collection days, or hire a junk removal service.
How Moishe’s Can Help
If you are moving with us, mattress disposal becomes part of the move logistics. We do not haul to landfills directly, but we coordinate the entire process so you do not have to:
- During the move: We can bag the old mattress at your origin address and place it curbside if your collection day aligns, or transport it to a recycling facility on the way to your new home.
- Donation routing: If your mattress qualifies for donation, we can drop it at a participating Habitat for Humanity ReStore or Salvation Army location during the move route.
- Storage transition: If you are between leases and need short-term storage, we can store the mattress in our storage facility (climate-controlled options available) and decide on disposal later.
- Bedbug protocol: If the mattress has bedbugs, we have separate handling procedures and will coordinate disposal in line with NYC bedbug law.
Mattress disposal is one piece of a larger NYC furniture problem. For furniture beyond mattresses, see our 2026 guide to getting rid of old furniture in NYC. We have been a trusted moving company in NYC for over 40 years.
Get a free moving quote and we can include mattress disposal in the scope. If you are not moving with us, the comparison table above shows your other options. For one-off removal, we recommend booking a private junk removal service rather than waiting for a DSNY collection day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you throw away a mattress in NYC?
Yes. The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collects mattresses for free on your regular trash collection day, but the mattress must be fully sealed in a plastic bag (any color except red or orange). Set it at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before trash day. No appointment is needed.
How do you properly dispose of a mattress in NYC?
Seal the mattress fully in a heavy-duty plastic bag and place it at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before your regular trash collection day. The bag can be any color except red or orange. DSNY will collect it for free on your normal trash day. No appointment is needed.
What is the fine for not bagging a mattress in NYC?
The fine for setting out an unsealed or improperly bagged mattress in NYC is up to $300 per the NYC Department of Sanitation. Fines escalate with repeat offenses within a 12-month window: $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second, $200 for the third, and $300 thereafter. Sanitation workers will also refuse to collect the mattress, leaving it on your sidewalk until you bag it correctly.
Can I put a mattress out on the curb without an appointment in NYC?
Yes. As of 2024, DSNY no longer requires appointments for bulk item collection. Set the bagged mattress at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before your regular trash collection day (not recycling day), and DSNY will pick it up. You can set out up to 6 large items per collection day.
How do I dispose of a mattress with bedbugs in NYC?
If your mattress has or had bedbugs, NYC law requires you to label it with a clear “BED BUGS” notice in addition to fully sealing it in a plastic bag. Place it curbside during the normal 6 PM to midnight set-out window the night before trash day. The bedbug label protects sanitation workers and alerts neighbors not to bring the mattress inside. For severe infestations, consider hiring a junk removal service experienced with bedbug protocol so the mattress is removed without contaminating your hallway or building exits.
How to dispose of a king-size mattress in NYC?
King-size mattresses follow the same DSNY rules as smaller mattresses: fully sealed in a plastic bag, placed curbside between 6 PM and midnight before trash day. Buy a king-size mattress bag (available at Home Depot or U-Haul). Because of weight and dimensions, most NYC residents need help moving a king mattress; a junk removal service ($95 to $150) is often easier than DIY curbside.
How to dispose of a memory foam mattress in NYC?
Memory foam mattresses follow the same DSNY rules as spring mattresses: sealed in a plastic bag, curbside set-out between 6 PM and midnight. Memory foam recycling is available through some private facilities but not through curbside DSNY. Most NYC memory foam mattresses end up at DSNY curbside or junk removal.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of an old mattress in NYC?
The cheapest way is DSNY curbside pickup, which is free aside from the cost of a plastic mattress bag ($6 to $15). The mattress must be fully sealed in the bag and placed at the curb between 6 PM and midnight before your trash day. For walk-up apartments where carrying the mattress down is impractical, the next cheapest option is a junk removal service at $79 to $150.
Effortlessly Dispose of Your Mattress with Moishe’s
Disposing of a mattress in NYC comes down to four choices: free DSNY curbside pickup (if you bag it correctly and can carry it down), donation (if the mattress is in excellent condition), recycling (eco-friendly but limited in NYC), or junk removal (fastest, $79 to $150). The biggest risk is the $300 fine for unbagged mattresses, which is avoidable with a $10 plastic bag and 15 minutes of work.
If you are moving with us, mattress disposal can be folded into the move scope. Request a free moving quote and we will include it. Contact us today for moving services tailored to your needs.
If you found this guide helpful, make sure you check out some of our other moving tips.
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