Mattress removal in Boston, MA

A mattress and box spring beside a lidded trash barrel at the curb of a Boston triple-decker

How the city's mattress appointment works

Book online; the city's mattress page lists no fee. Memory foam, innerspring, hybrid and latex mattresses and box springs are accepted. Futons and toppers are not accepted, and may be put out for regular trash collection. Set the mattress at the curb after 5 p.m. the night before or by 6 a.m. on the appointment day, with nothing on top, not crushed or cut.

Soiled or bed-bug mattresses must be bagged and sealed. Cancel before noon the day before through the email link or 311. If the crew misses it, report to 311 within 24 hours. The cap is 10 items per calendar year, after which you use a private hauler.

Who is left out

The program covers buildings of six units or fewer, so many condo and apartment buildings are excluded and the property manager must arrange removal. In the neighborhoods of triple-deckers, each unit is usually inside the six-unit limit, but a landlord with several mattresses to clear at tenant turnover can reach the 10-per-year cap quickly.

The state's ban covers anyone, so a mattress cannot just join the trash. MassDEP points to recycling through municipal programs, retailers who take the old one on delivery, and private recyclers. Habitat's ReStore does not accept mattresses or box springs, and most donation shops refuse them too.

Pricing a private pickup

A private mattress job is priced by size, with the Massachusetts recycling fee included: twin $89, full $99, queen $109, king $129. Box springs run $59 to $99. The minimum pickup is $159, so a single queen mattress and box spring ($188) clears it, while one twin mattress alone would be billed at the minimum.

Stairs are not an extra charge. On a third-floor walk-down in Jamaica Plain or Dorchester, say whether the box spring has to turn a landing so the crew brings tools to cut it down.

A Boston mattress booking, step by step

Day before, noon
Last time to cancel or reschedule through the booking email or 311.
Evening before, after 5 p.m.
Earliest time to set it at the curb; nothing on top, uncut.
Appointment day, 6 a.m.
Latest time it can be out. Soiled or bed-bug mattresses go out sealed in plastic.
Within 24 hours of a miss
Report the missed pickup to 311 at 617-635-4500.

Local resources in Boston

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

Town
City of Boston mattress pickup (Public Works)
Accepts: Mattresses and box springs from buildings of six units or fewer, by appointment; limit 10 per household per calendar year.
The free city route that keeps a mattress from the trash under the state ban.
Booked online at boston.gov/mattress
Website for City of Boston mattress pickup (Public Works)617-635-4500
Habitat ReStore
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Greater Boston)
Accepts: Donated appliances, furniture and building materials; confirm current donation needs before bringing items
Staff help unload; pickup is scheduled through ReSupply for a fee, and you get a tax receipt. About 7 miles from Boston (straight line), in West Roxbury.
1580 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Website for Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Greater Boston)617-327-1170

Quick answers

Can I put a mattress out with the Boston trash?

No. Massachusetts has banned mattresses and box springs from disposal since Nov 1, 2022. In Boston you book the free pickup at boston.gov/mattress.

How many mattresses can I recycle through Boston per year?

Ten per household per calendar year. After that, use a private hauler.

Do Boston's mattress pickups include futons?

No. Futons and mattress toppers are not accepted and go out with regular trash.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Boston before you go.

City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “The City of Boston requires an appointment for the collection of all mattresses and box springs.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “The City of Boston will accept memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid, and latex mattresses.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “We will not accept futons, mattress toppers, and other similar non-mattress items.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Place your mattress on the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of your appointment, or after 5 p.m. the night before.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Do not place anything on top of the mattress. Do not crush or cut your mattress or box spring for collection.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Mattresses that are soiled, dirty, or have bed bugs must be bagged and fully sealed” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Appointment cancellations must be made before 12 p.m. the day prior to your appointment.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Missed pick-ups must be reported within 24-hours of your scheduled date” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “Curbside mattress pick-up is limited to 10 items per calendar year.” · accessed October 31, 2026
City of Boston: Mattress recycling: “The City only picks-up mattresses from residents who live in buildings with six units or fewer.” · accessed October 31, 2026
MassDEP: Mattress recycling: “Effective November 1, 2022: Mattresses are banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.” · accessed October 31, 2026
MassDEP: Mattress recycling: “Take advantage of retailer haul-away.” · accessed October 31, 2026