Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Program

1. Confirm that your items are eligible: 

• Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units the receive regular City trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring.
• Residents of buildings with more than 6 units with private trash services are not eligible. Please contact your building manager for instructions on how they can assist you with recycling your items.
• You may only recycle up to two bulk items, including mattresses or box springs, per week.
• Call first if mattress is soiled or infested! If your mattress is soiled or you suspect it is infested with bed bugs, contact 311 for special instructions before purchasing a sticker.

2. Purchase a Disposal Sticker one of three ways:

To use City services to recycle your mattress or box spring, you must purchase a Disposal Sticker for each unit (one for each mattress and one for each box spring).

• Stickers can be purchased one of three ways:
  • Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.
  • At the Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit card, or money order accepted. No cash.
  • At City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Check, credit card, or money order accepted.

3. Schedule your mattress/box spring pickup:

• Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup.
• You can reach 311 by phone, email, app, live chat, online form, Facebook, or X.
  • Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more ways to contact.

4: Place your items with their stickers on the curb:

• Place a disposal sticker on each item to be discarded.
• Put items on the curb on the arranged pickup day: The mattress or box spring will be picked up curbside one day after your regular trash day with one exception. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses and box springs will also be picked up on Friday.
• Place on the curb by 7 a.m. on the pickup day: Mattresses and box springs may be placed outside for pickup starting at 4 p.m. on the day before the pickup day — and must be out before 7 a.m. on the pickup day.
• Please follow the rules: Recyclable mattresses placed out with trash and not scheduled for pickup will be left on the curb and, after a grace period at the start of the program, may be subject to fines.
• Mattresses and box springs blocking a sidewalk may be subject to fines. When placing on the curb, please leave a clear path at least 36 inches (three feet) wide.

Which mattresses and box springs can be recycled?

• Most mattress types can be recycled including foam, spring, mixed material, or latex mattresses and all box springs. All mattress sizes are accepted, from king to crib size.
• The following items will not be accepted for recycling. Please dispose of them with the trash:
  • infant sleeping pads not meant for cribs
  • futons, mattress pads, or toppers
  • excessively torn, soiled, or moldy items
  • broken, crushed, or twisted items
  • air or water beds
  • bed-bug-infested mattresses (For information on how to properly mark and dispose of an infested mattress, visit somervillema.gov/bedbugs.)

Who is eligible for City mattress and box spring recycling services?

• Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units that receive regular City trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring.
• Residents of buildings with 7 or more units with private trash services are not eligible. Please contact your building manager for instructions on how they can assist you with recycling your items.
• Mattress and box spring recycling is limited to 2 items per property each week. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items.
• Call first if mattress is soiled or infested! If your mattress is soiled or you suspect it is infested with bed bugs, contact 311 for special instructions before purchasing a sticker.

I live in a building with 7 or more units, how do I recycle my mattress or box spring?

• Please contact your building manager for instructions on how they can assist you with recycling your items.
• Buildings with private trash service, or residents who have surpassed the allowed disposal limit of two bulk items per week, will need to contact a mattress recycling hauler company to contract for commercial pickup.

I have more than two items to recycle. What can I do?

• Mattress and box spring recycling is limited to 2 items per property each week. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items.
• Properties that have surpassed the allowed disposal limit of two bulk items per week, will need to plan accordingly or  contact a mattress recycling hauler company to contract for commercial pickup.
• Other alternatives include private resale or donation.
• Or, if you have purchased a new mattress, ask the retailer if they will pick up your old one.

How do I Purchase a Disposal Sticker?

To use City services to recycle your mattress or box spring, you must purchase a Disposal Sticker for each unit (one for each mattress and one for each box spring).

• Stickers can be purchased one of three ways:
• Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.
• At the Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit card, or money order accepted. No cash.
• At City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Check, credit card, or money order accepted.

How do I schedule a mattress/box spring pickup?

You must schedule a pickup. Mattresses and box springs are not allowed to simply be placed on the curb with regular trash and recycling.

• Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup.
• You can reach 311 by phone, email, app, live chat, online form, Facebook, or X.
• Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more ways to contact.

How and when should I place my items on the curb for scheduled pickup?

• Place a disposal sticker on each item to be discarded.
• Put items on the curb on the arranged pickup day: The mattress or box spring will be picked up curbside one day after your regular trash day with one exception. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses and box springs will also be picked up on Friday.
• Place on the curb by 7 a.m. on the pickup day: Mattresses and box springs may be placed outside for pickup starting at 4 p.m. on the day before the pickup day — and must be out before 7 a.m. on the pickup day.
• Do not place items on the mattress or box spring.
• Be sure your items are on public property. The crew is prohibited from entering private property to retrieve mattresses and box springs.
• Please follow the rules: Recyclable mattresses placed out with trash and not scheduled for pickup will be left on the curb and, after a grace period at the start of the program, may be subject to fines.

Do I need to be home when my items are picked up?

• No.
  • Please just be sure to place your items on the curb by 7 a.m. on the pickup day (and no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before.
• Do not place items on the mattress or box spring.
• Be sure your items are on public property. The crew is prohibited from entering private property to retrieve mattresses and box springs.

How do I cancel my mattress/box spring pickup appointment?

• Should you need to cancel your appointment after scheduling a pickup, please contact 311 right away and no later than 12 p.m. the day prior to your pickup.

How do I report a missed recycling pickup?

• If your mattress or box spring is not picked up at the scheduled time, please contact 311 right away and we will work to arrange swift pickup where possible or to schedule a new pickup.

Can I donate or recycle my mattress/box spring some other way?

• Donate

Some (not all) charitable organizations accept donations of mattresses or box springs in good condition with no rips, stains, or bed bugs. Please contact the organization first for instructions and to confirm need. One option to try is www.householdgoods.org.

• Retailer pickup

If you are purchasing a new mattress from a store, ask the retailer if they offer mattress pickup and disposal as part of the price or delivery service. 

• Recycling Hauler

Buildings with private trash service, or residents who have surpassed the allowed disposal limit of two bulk items per week, will need to contact a mattress recycling hauler company to contract for commercial pickup.

Which mattresses and box springs can be recycled?

• Most mattress types can be recycled including foam, spring, mixed material, or latex mattresses and all box springs. All mattress sizes are accepted, from king to crib size.
• The following items will not be accepted for recycling. Please dispose of them with the trash:
  • infant sleeping pads not meant for cribs
  • futons, mattress pads, or toppers
  • excessively torn, soiled, or moldy items
  • broken, crushed, or twisted items
  • air or water beds
  • bed-bug-infested mattresses (For information on how to properly mark and dispose of an infested mattress, visit somervillema.gov/bedbugs.)

What will my old items be recycled into?

About three-fourths of the materials in your old mattress and box spring can be recycled into new items such as:

• Carpet padding or animal beds can be made from mattress foam
• Industrial oil filters or other textile products can be produced using old mattress fabric
• New appliances or building materials can be constructed from old steel mattress springs and box springs
• Garden mulch and wood-based alternative fuel can be made out of wooden box spring frames

How am I helping out by recycling my old mattresses and box springs?

• Not only is mattress and box spring recycling required by state law to reduce pressure on our landfills, it’s good for the environment and creates recycling jobs.
• Recycling used materials into new products uses less water and energy (https://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org/lca-report/) than starting from scratch with new resources:
  • Recycling one mattress:
    • Reduces greenhouse gases equivalent to driving 60 fewer miles
    • Saves roughly 500 gallons of water
    • Conserves resources by reusing steel, wood, fabric, and foam
    • Saves roughly enough energy to power one house for three days

Why is there a fee for mattress recycling?

Since November 2022, State law has required that all discarded mattresses and box springs be recycled. As a result, the City of Somerville spends nearly $300,000 each year to cover the cost of recycling mattresses and box springs discarded by residents and costs continue to rise. 

In Fiscal Year 2025, the average cost paid by the City to recycle a mattress or box spring was $63.46 per unit, including hauling and recycling fees. Under the current program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services. 

How did DPW set the fee?

After reviewing mattress recycling programs in 28 nearby communities of similar size, the Department of Public Works (DPW) introduced a Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Fee Program starting February 1, 2026. This program will help offset rising disposal costs while creating a more consistent, fair, and sustainable system for residents.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the average cost paid by the City to recycle a mattress or box spring was $63.46 per unit, including hauling and recycling fees. Under the current program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services. 

What are the hidden costs to residents if we don’t have a fee?

Requiring fees similar to those in neighboring communities helps prevents misuse and overuse of Somerville services paid for primarily by property taxes. First, it will help deter residents of other communities from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their own community’s fees. Second, with a fee in place, some residents may seek alternatives to disposal where possible, such as donations or resale, which will reduce the amount of waste and cost.

The new policy establishes a clear, uniform approach to mattress recycling and is expected to reduce the total number of units collected each week, helping the City better manage operational costs.

You are helping out by recycling your old mattresses and boxsprings.

• Not only is mattress and boxspring recycling required by state law to reduce pressure on our landfills, it’s good for the environment and creates recycling jobs.
• Recycling used materials into new products uses less water and energy (https://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org/lca-report/) than starting from scratch with new resources:
  • Recycling one mattress:
    • Reduces greenhouse gases equivalent to driving 60 fewer miles
    • Saves roughly 500 gallons of water
    • Conserves resources by reusing steel, wood, fabric, and foam
    • Saves roughly enough energy to power one house for three days [Use graphic please and credit: Courtesy of Mattress Recycling Council]

How to recycle a mattress and/or box spring BEFORE Feb. 1, 2026: 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is introducing a Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Fee Program. This program will help offset rising disposal costs while creating a more consistent, fair, and sustainable system for residents. It will also help deter residents of neighboring communities that already require payment for mattress recycling from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their community’s fees.

The new policy establishes a clear, uniform approach to mattress recycling and is expected to reduce the total number of units collected each week, helping the City better manage operational costs.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the average cost paid by the City of Somerville to recycle a mattress or box spring was $63.46 per unit, including hauling and recycling fees. Under the new program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services.  

The new fee program will go into effect on February 1, 2026. Starting on that date, residents wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring will need to purchase a Disposal Sticker before placing these items on the curb on their regular trash and recycling pickup day.

How to Purchase a Mattress or Box Spring Disposal Sticker

• Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline
• Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person (check or money order accepted) at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road
• City Hall: Purchase in person (cash, check, credit card, or money order accepted) at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue

Please note:

• Each mattress and each box spring are considered separate units and require individual stickers.
• Infested mattresses will continue to require payment and must be scheduled for special pickup.  
   

Mattress Recycling Guidelines

• Schedule a pickup: Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup. Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more contact options.
• Put items on the curb on the arranged pickup day: The mattress or box spring will be picked up curbside one day after your regular trash day with one exception. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses and box springs will also be picked up on Friday.
• Place on the curb by 7 a.m. on the pickup day: Mattresses and box springs may be placed outside for pickup starting at 4 p.m. on the day before the pickup day — and must be out before 7 a.m. on the pickup day.
• Please follow the rules: Recyclable mattresses placed out with trash and not scheduled for pickup will be left on the curb and, after a grace period at the start of the program, may be subject to fines.  

Which mattresses and box springs can be recycled?

• Most mattress types can be recycled including foam, spring, mixed material, or latex mattresses and all box springs. All mattress sizes will be accepted, from king to crib size.
• The following items will not be accepted for recycling. Please dispose of them with the trash:
  • infant sleeping pads not meant for cribs
  • futons, mattress pads, or toppers
  • excessively torn, soiled, or moldy items
  • broken, crushed, or twisted items
  • air or water beds
  • bed-bug-infested mattresses (For information on how to properly mark and dispose of an infested mattress, visit somervillema.gov/bedbugs.)