A public resource guide
Massachusetts banned mattresses from disposal effective November 1, 2022. Boston Public Works provides bulk item collection for mattresses to be diverted to recycling. This guide covers every option.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
This is a public resource guide for Boston residents. Below: the free city options, donation programs, state recycling law, and paid options when free won’t work for your situation.
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The fastest free path for most residents is the City’s own bulk collection program.
Boston Public Works Department curbside trash collection
FreeEligibility: Boston single-family and small multifamily residential addresses.
How to schedule: No scheduling required for standard mattress pickup. Place at curb on your regular trash day. Find your day at boston.gov/public-works or call 311.
Set-out: Place at curb the night before your trash day, after 5:00 PM. Do not block sidewalk or fire hydrants.
Cost: Free for City residential customers. Buildings with 7+ units use private haulers.
Mattress wrapping requirement
RequiredBoston requires mattresses to be wrapped in plastic for bedbug prevention before curbside placement. Plastic mattress bags are available at hardware stores.
Massachusetts mattress disposal ban: As of November 1, 2022, mattresses cannot be disposed of as trash in Massachusetts. They must be recycled. Boston works with regional recyclers to divert mattresses collected curbside.
University student move-out (Allston Christmas): September 1 in Boston is famously chaotic for student moves. The City runs special bulk pickup operations around this date — check Boston.gov for current Allston Christmas resources.
Triple-deckers: Many Boston triple-deckers are split between owner-occupied and rentals. City sanitation rules apply to residential portions; verify with property owner.
For complete Boston bulk waste rules beyond mattresses, see our Boston junk removal guide.
If your mattress is still in good condition — no significant stains, no bedbug history, less than ~7 years old — donation is the best path. Most programs offer free pickup.
Boston donation programs
Free for usable itemsHabitat for Humanity Greater Boston ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, and building materials.
Salvation Army Boston: 1-800-SA-TRUCK or satruck.org.
Goodwill Industries of Boston: Multiple drop-off locations.
Pine Street Inn, Rosie’s Place, Boston Rescue Mission: Local nonprofits accepting usable bedding for transitional housing.
What donation programs typically accept: Clean mattresses without significant tears or stains, no bedbug history, less than ~7 years old. Box springs are usually accepted with the same condition standards. Bed frames in working condition with all hardware.
What’s typically NOT accepted: Mattresses with bedbug history or visible insect activity, significant stains, mold, structural damage, or significantly worn condition. Always call ahead to confirm the program’s current standards.
Massachusetts has a statewide mattress disposal BAN effective November 1, 2022. While not a Bye Bye Mattress program, the ban requires mattresses to be diverted from landfills to recyclers. Boston works with regional recycling partners to handle curbside-collected mattresses.
How the MA ban works: Effective November 1, 2022, mattresses cannot be disposed of as solid waste in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) requires haulers to divert mattresses to recyclers. Curbside collection is still available; the difference is downstream handling.
What this means for residents: You don’t need to do anything different at curbside — the City handles diversion. However, transfer stations and private haulers may charge separate mattress fees because they pay recyclers to process them.
Free options work for most Boston residents, but some situations need paid pickup: you’re moving out and can’t wait for the next scheduled bulk week; your apartment building doesn’t have free bulk service; you need in-home loading (mattress comes out of the bedroom, not the curb); or you’re disposing of multiple items at once and want it handled in a single trip.
LoadUp paid mattress pickup
$85+LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in Boston for upfront-priced mattress, box spring, and bed frame pickup. In-home loading included — you don’t carry the mattress to the curb.
What’s included: Loading from inside the home, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep required beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $85+ for a single mattress. Box spring + mattress + bed frame as a bundle is typically less than the sum of individual prices.
Other paid services: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Junk King Boston, and local New England haulers serve the area.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Boston mattress pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Box springs: Almost always handled the same as mattresses by city bulk programs and donation organizations. The state recycling laws above generally cover both mattresses AND box springs. Wrap requirements (where they exist) apply to box springs too.
Bed frames: Treated as regular bulky furniture, not mattresses. Most curbside bulky programs accept bed frames separately. Wood frames go to landfill or wood recycling. Metal frames are recyclable as scrap metal — if you have access to a scrap yard, they may pay you for the metal. Donation programs accept working bed frames with all hardware.
Headboards and footboards: Same as bed frames — bulky furniture, not mattresses. Donate if usable; place with bulky pickup if not.
Adjustable bed bases (motorized): Usually NOT accepted in standard mattress recycling because of the electronics and mechanics. Check if your retailer offers haul-away with new purchase. Otherwise, paid pickup is typical.
Is mattress removal really free in Boston?
Yes, the city offers free curbside or scheduled bulk pickup for mattresses, box springs, and bed frames through Boston Public Works Department curbside trash collection. Boston single-family and small multifamily residential addresses. Free options work for most residents. Paid pickup is only needed in specific situations like apartment buildings without free bulk service, mid-move scheduling that can't wait, or in-home loading requirements.
How do I schedule a free mattress pickup in Boston?
No scheduling required for standard mattress pickup. Place at curb on your regular trash day. Find your day at https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works (boston.gov/public-works) or call 311.
Do mattresses have to be wrapped in plastic before pickup?
Yes. Boston requires mattresses to be wrapped in plastic for bedbug prevention before curbside placement. Plastic mattress bags are available at hardware stores.
Can I donate a used mattress instead of throwing it away?
Yes, if the mattress is in good condition. Boston-area programs that accept usable mattress donations include Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston ReStore, Salvation Army Boston, Goodwill Industries of Boston, among others listed above. They typically require no significant stains, no bedbug history, and less than ~7 years old. Call ahead to confirm the program's current standards before scheduling pickup. Donation is the most sustainable path for mattresses still in usable condition.
Does MA have a free mattress recycling program?
Massachusetts has a statewide mattress disposal BAN effective November 1, 2022. While not a Bye Bye Mattress program, the ban requires mattresses to be diverted from landfills to recyclers. Boston works with regional recycling partners to handle curbside-collected mattresses.
What about box springs and bed frames?
Box springs are handled the same as mattresses by Boston bulk programs and most donation organizations. The same set-out rules and wrap requirements (if any) apply to both. Bed frames are treated as regular bulky furniture rather than mattresses -- they're usually accepted in bulky pickup but may be in a separate disposal stream from the mattress itself. Metal bed frames can be recycled as scrap metal, sometimes for a small payment at scrap yards. Adjustable bed bases (motorized) are usually NOT accepted in standard mattress disposal -- they need retailer haul-away or paid pickup.
My building uses a private hauler. Can I still use city pickup?
Probably not for the building itself. Most apartment buildings and condos in Boston with 5+ units use private waste haulers under contract. The free city bulk program is for single-family and small multifamily addresses with direct City service. Contact your property manager for the building's mattress disposal process -- most properties have either an on-site bulky disposal arrangement or a coordinated pickup with the building's hauler. You may also be able to use a paid junk removal service that picks up directly from your unit.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, please contact us.