How to Dispose of a Mattress in NYC

Leveled up on your next trip to dreamland with new bedding? Are you moving and don’t need to bring your old mattress and box spring with you? Are you fed up with your futon mattress and want to kick it to the curb?

No matter the situation you find yourself in, you’ll want to know the proper way to dispose of a mattress or box spring if you’re needing to get rid of the one(s) you’ve got. Not following the rules outlined by the city may cost you! Keep reading for more on NYC mattress and box spring disposal procedures.

Details on proper disposal procedures

Here’s the good news: You won’t need to plan to take your mattress or box spring anywhere special if you live within the five boroughs. It’s acceptable to leave either bedding item where trash is typically collected (i.e. near your building’s trash/recycling area).

It’s ideal to take your mattress or box spring to the garbage in the evening before it’s collected by the city (between 4pm and 12am). You can look up your address and find out your waste collection day on the NYC Department of Sanitation website.

However, there are a few details to cover before setting it out for the next trash collection. Any mattress or box spring left out for collection must be left in a plastic bag. The bag itself can be any color except red or orange. Why must you place them in a plastic bag? Your neighbors and fellow city-dwellers will thank you for following through as this rule prevents the spread of bed bugs. What’s more, not putting your mattress or box spring into a bag means it won’t be collected with the trash and you may get a $100 fine.

Where to get a plastic mattress bag?

While the city does require that you put mattresses and box springs that you wish to dispose of into plastic bags, they don’t provide them. So, some planning ahead will be necessary to ensure you have a bag ready when you’d like to dispose of them. There are a number of retailers who carry these bags.

You may find mattress bags at:

• Big box stores (like Walmart)
• Home improvement retailers (like Lowe’s or The Home Depot)
• Hardware stores (like Ace Hardware)
• Moving supply stores

If you’ve got time to wait for the bag(s) to be shipped to your home, you can also check out some online retailers as well. They are relatively inexpensive, ranging from around $6 to $12 per bag depending on the size and where you purchase them.

If disposing of a mattress is part of your moving or home organizing plan, Piece of Cake Moving & Storage can help you get your plans to the finish line. For a move of any size, we provide a range of services to get your items from point A to point B including moving supplies, custom crating, as well as packing and unpacking services. If you’re decluttering and want to make more space in your home, you can take advantage of our storage services. No matter what your needs are, let us help make your moving or storage goals a reality.