$5
pink Large Item sticker per bulk item, scheduled at 515-283-4950
$35
for an appliance (7 stickers), refrigerant included
24 hours
minimum notice before your regular collection day
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in Des Moines, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Des Moines guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Des Moines, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Des Moines sticker-based bulk and appliance pickup: bed frames and box springs
City pickup, $5 sticker per itemA bed frame is one $5 sticker item; metal frames go free to a scrap yard.
Who qualifies: Households with City of Des Moines Public Works garbage collection.
How to schedule: Call Public Works at 515-283-4950 (24 hours a day) at least 24 hours before your regular collection day, then put a pink $5 Large Item sticker on each bulk item and set it out on your collection day with the sticker facing the street. Appliances need 7 stickers ($35). Stickers are sold at City Hall, grocery and hardware stores, and MWAToday.com.
Limits: One $5 sticker per bulk item; 7 stickers per appliance. Large limbs and bundles need a green Compost It! sticker instead.
Set-out: At the curb on your regular collection day with stickers facing the street, after calling to schedule.
Donation pickup in Des Moines (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeSalvation Army Des Moines, free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule at satruck.org.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Des Moines ReStore, free pickup for qualifying donations of furniture, appliances, and building materials.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Des Moines: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering bed frames and box springs, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Des Moines: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Des Moines, Iowa runs a Pay-As-You-Throw pink sticker system rather than a free bulk pickup program. Every bulk item or extra bag of trash requires a sticker purchased in advance, with appliances scheduled separately for $35 (seven $5 stickers). The system rewards households that recycle and reduce waste, if everything fits in your cart with the lid closed, no extra fees. Big stickers stack: a couch, a chair, and a coffee table from a living room cleanout each need their own $5 sticker. Des Moines uses a blue recycling cart while surrounding suburbs use green Curb It! carts, a common confusion when moving within the metro. This guide covers every option for Des Moines city residents, plus Central Iowa Metro Waste Authority resources.
The Des Moines rule for bed frames and box springs: A bed frame is one $5 sticker item; metal frames go free to a scrap yard.
Program basics: One $5 sticker per bulk item; 7 stickers per appliance. Large limbs and bundles need a green Compost It! sticker instead. At the curb on your regular collection day with stickers facing the street, after calling to schedule.
What the city will not take: Household hazardous waste and electronics (Metro Waste Authority programs), tires, and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Des Moines Public Works: Bulk Trash and Appliances. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why bed frames and box springs are different from ordinary bulk. The frame problem is mostly logistical: beds come apart into pieces, and bulk programs differ on whether a disassembled bed is one item or five. Some count the bundle as one if it is tied together; some count each piece. Metal frames can be folded flat and tied.
Three mistakes that get bed frames and box springs left at the curb:
Paid options cover box springs in states where free drop-offs are inconvenient and large platform or storage beds that need breaking down.
Self-haul to a transfer station or mattress recycler
Free to $25 per pieceBox springs are accepted at transfer stations for a per-piece fee in most areas and free at state program drop-offs in CA, CT, and RI. Disassembled frames fit in a car.
Tie box springs to a roof rack only if you must; they catch wind.
LoadUp paid bed frame or box spring pickup
$80+For Des Moines households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Des Moines area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your bed frame or box spring. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book bed frame or box spring pickup in Des Moines with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Des Moines proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Des Moines junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national bed frame and box spring disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Des Moines: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does Des Moines pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
$5 sticker, or free at a scrap yard for metal.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in Des Moines?
Salvation Army Des Moines, free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule at satruck.org.
How much does paid bed frame removal cost in Des Moines?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in Des Moines starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Des Moines households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Des Moines area for upfront-priced pickup.
Can I put a bed frame out for bulk pickup?
Yes in nearly every city. Disassemble it and tie the pieces together so the bundle counts as one item. Metal frames can also be folded and taken to a scrap yard free.
Is a box spring treated like a mattress?
In most cities, yes. Box springs follow the same bulk pickup rules as mattresses, including plastic wrapping where required and separate appointments in some cities. In Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, box springs are covered by state mattress laws.
Which states have mattress and box spring laws?
California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island run Bye Bye Mattress recycling programs funded by a fee on new purchases, with free drop-off sites. Massachusetts banned mattresses and box springs from disposal in November 2022 and requires recycling. Oregon has enacted a program as well.
Can I donate a box spring?
Rarely on its own. Most programs only accept a box spring paired with a clean, like-new mattress. Metal frames in good condition and complete wood frames are much easier to donate.
Is this Des Moines page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Des Moines guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
