Mattress disposal in San Diego has three honest options. Recycle it free through California’s statewide program, drop it at Miramar Recycling Center yourself, or pay a hauler to take it same-day. Mattresses can’t go in your curbside trash here, and dumping one costs you a fine. Here’s what each route actually involves in 2026.
Why you can’t just throw it out
California banned mattresses from landfill disposal as solid waste. They tangle compactors, take up huge space, and the steel and foam inside are recyclable. So the state runs a recycling program funded by an $11 fee you already paid when you bought the mattress.
That means recycling is free at the point of drop-off. You’re not paying twice. The fee at purchase covers the recycling.
What you can’t do: leave it at the curb on a normal trash day, toss it in a dumpster that isn’t yours, or set it on the sidewalk. The City of San Diego treats abandoned mattresses as illegal dumping, and the fines start around $100 and climb fast for repeats.
Option 1: free recycling through CalRecycle
California’s Mattress Recycling Council runs the Bye Bye Mattress program. Any San Diego resident can drop a mattress or box spring at a participating site for free, no proof of purchase needed.
The closest public site for most of the county is the Miramar Recycling Center at 5165 Convoy Street. You can also use the program’s site finder at byebyemattress.com to check for a closer collection event. The program has recycled millions of mattresses statewide, and the steel, foam, and wood get pulled out and reused.
Two things to know:
- The mattress has to be dry and reasonably clean. Soaked, moldy, or bed-bug-infested mattresses get rejected at most sites, and bed-bug mattresses must be bagged and disposed of as trash, not recycled.
- You haul it there yourself. That means a truck or a strapped-down roof rack, and a second person, because a king box spring does not fit in a sedan.
Option 2: retailer take-back
If you just bought a new mattress, California law requires the retailer to offer to haul your old one away at no extra charge, as long as you ask within 30 days of delivery. This applies whether you bought in store or online with delivery.
Most people forget to ask. Bring it up before the delivery truck shows up. It’s the easiest free route if the timing lines up.
Option 3: City of San Diego free bulky-item pickup
The City of San Diego offers free curbside bulky-item collection for residents who get city trash service. A mattress counts as a bulky item.
The catch is timing. You schedule it through the city’s Get It Done app or by calling Environmental Services, and the wait usually runs four to eight weeks. There are also limits on how many bulky items you can set out per pickup, so check before you stack a mattress, a couch, and a dresser at the curb the same day.
This route is great when you’re not in a hurry. It’s the wrong choice when you have a move-out date, a tenant turnover, or an HOA notice.
A note on HOAs and apartments
If you rent or live under an HOA, the curbside route may not exist for you. Many HOAs and apartment complexes use private waste haulers that don’t include bulky-item pickup, and several explicitly ban leaving large items by the dumpster. Some HOAs fine residents for a mattress left in a common area or breezeway.
Renters in complexes across Hillcrest, North Park, Pacific Beach, and downtown run into this constantly. The building won’t take it, the city service isn’t yours to use, and the mattress sits in the unit. That’s usually when a flat-rate hauler makes sense.
Option 4: hire a hauler
If you need it gone today, or you can’t move it yourself, a junk hauler picks it up and routes it to recycling for you. Here’s what a single mattress runs in San Diego, and how it compares to the free options.
| Option | Cost | Speed | You haul it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalRecycle drop-off (Miramar) | Free | Same day if you go | Yes |
| Retailer take-back | Free | At delivery | No |
| City bulky-item pickup | Free | 4–8 weeks | No, curbside |
| Junk hauler, single mattress | $89–$149 | Same day | No |
| Hauler, mattress + box spring + frame | $129–$179 | Same day | No |
Most haulers, us included, charge a per-mattress fee because each one carries a recycling cost and takes real space in the truck. The honest range for one mattress hauled and recycled is $89 to $149. Bundle a bedroom set, or add the mattress to a larger garage or room cleanout, and the per-item cost drops because you’re already paying for the volume.
For the full breakdown of how volume pricing works across every job size, see our 2026 San Diego junk removal cost guide.
What about the box spring and frame?
The box spring recycles the same way as the mattress under the state program, and most drop-off sites take both together. Metal bed frames are scrap steel, not part of the mattress program, but Miramar Recycling Center takes scrap metal and so does any junk hauler.
Adjustable bases with motors are different. They’ve got electronics, so they go to e-waste handling, not the mattress recycling stream. A hauler sorts that for you. On your own, you’d take the base to the City’s household hazardous and e-waste collection.
How to give a mattress away instead
A clean, stain-free, structurally sound mattress in good shape can sometimes be donated. Be realistic though. Most San Diego charities refuse used mattresses outright for hygiene and liability reasons, and the ones that accept them want them spotless and recent.
If yours qualifies, check our San Diego charity pickup guide for which orgs take what and how fast they come. If it’s stained, sagging, or older than about eight years, skip the donation route. Recycle it instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a mattress in my curbside trash in San Diego? No. California bans mattresses from landfill as standard solid waste, and the City treats a curbside mattress as illegal dumping. Use recycling, scheduled bulky-item pickup, or a hauler.
Is mattress recycling really free in San Diego? Yes, at participating drop-off sites. The $11 recycling fee was built into the price when you bought it, so there’s no charge to drop it off. You do have to transport it yourself.
Where can I drop off a mattress for free near me? The Miramar Recycling Center on Convoy Street takes mattresses through the state program. Check byebyemattress.com for collection events that may be closer to your neighborhood.
Do I have to pay extra to recycle a freon appliance with my mattress? Freon and refrigerant don’t apply to mattresses. But if you’re clearing a bedroom that includes a mini-fridge, refrigerant-bearing appliances need EPA-certified reclaim before disposal, which carries its own fee. A hauler handles both in one trip.
Will a hauler recycle my mattress or just dump it? A reputable San Diego hauler routes mattresses to the state recycling program, not the landfill, because dumping them is against state law anyway. Ask before you book. We recycle every mattress we pick up.
My mattress has bed bugs. Can I still recycle it? No. Bed-bug mattresses can’t enter the recycling stream. They have to be sealed in plastic and disposed of as trash. Tell your hauler up front so they bag and handle it correctly.
Get a flat-rate quote
If hauling is the right call, we’ll give you an upfront price before the crew shows up. Call or text photos of the mattress to (858) 925-5546 and you’ll get a flat-rate quote on the spot. Same-day pickup is usually available across San Diego County, and every mattress we take goes to recycling, not the dump.