Short answer
California runs a free mattress recycling program, so you do not have to pay to get rid of an old mattress or box spring the right way. Under the state's Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act, the Mattress Recycling Council's Bye Bye Mattress program lets residents drop off mattresses and box springs at participating sites at no charge, funded by a recycling fee paid when you buy a new mattress. Here is how it works, and when a flat-price pickup makes more sense.
Why a mattress cannot just go to the curb
Mattresses are bulky, and leaving one on the curb or sidewalk without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping in Los Angeles. They also do not belong in your regular bin. The state built the recycling program precisely so there is a proper, free path for them.
The free option: Bye Bye Mattress
California residents can drop off used mattresses and box springs free at participating collection sites. The program is paid for by a recycling fee you already paid when you bought a new mattress, so there is no cost at drop-off. Find the nearest participating LA-area site, its hours, and any per-visit limits at byebyemattress.com before you load up.
Free drop-off versus a flat-price pickup
Free drop-off is the cheapest route if you can move the mattress yourself and get it to a site during open hours. A flat-price pickup makes more sense when the mattress is heavy or up a flight of stairs, when you do not have a vehicle to haul it, or when you want it gone today along with other items.
How our pickup works
Send a photo, get one flat price, and our own insured crew carries the mattress out from any floor. Small jobs start at $75. We recycle mattresses through California's program, so yours does not go to the landfill.
Where your mattress goes
A recycled mattress is broken down into parts that get reused: steel springs, foam, wood from the frame, and fiber. That is the whole point of the state program, and it is why dumping one is both illegal and wasteful.
Frequently asked questions
Get a flat price for mattress pickup
Send a photo and get your flat price at junkline.com, or call (213) 806-3399. See also how to get rid of a mattress in LA.