Somerville Introduces Mattress Recycling Fee Program

The City of Somerville currently spends nearly $300,000 each year to cover the cost of recycling mattresses and box springs discarded by residents. Since November 2022, state law has required that all discarded mattresses and box springs be recycled to reduce pressure on landfills, significantly increasing municipal recycling costs statewide. 

After reviewing mattress recycling programs in 28 nearby communities of similar size, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is introducing 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. It will also help deter residents of neighboring communities from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their own 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 of eligible households wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring will need to purchase a Disposal Sticker before scheduling a mattress pickup and placing these items on the curb. Mattresses will be collected curbside one day after regular trash collection. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses will also be collected on Friday. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items. 

How to Recycle a Mattress or Box Spring via City Services: 

• First, confirm that you are eligible: Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units with city-managed trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring. Pickup is also limited to two bulk items per week. Residents of buildings with 7 or more units using private trash services are not eligible.
• Purchase a Disposal Sticker one of three ways:
  • Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.
  • Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit cards, and money orders are accepted. No cash.
  • City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Cash, check, credit card, or money order are accepted.
• Schedule your mattress 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 ways to contact 311.
• Please note: Infested or soiled mattresses must be scheduled for special pickup. Contact 311 before purchasing a sticker. 

For more information on mattress recycling and disposal, please visit the City website at somervillema.gov/mattressrecycling.  

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

If you need assistance translating or understanding this information, please call 311 (617-666-3311) or contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov. The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.