The City of Boston will not collect a mattress or box spring with your curbside trash. Its page says recycling them is now a state requirement, and that you have to schedule an appointment for curbside pick-up. That matters if you’re moving, staging a home or emptying a unit between tenants.
Who the city collects from
The City of Boston’s FAQ says curbside mattress collection is for residents of most buildings with 6 units or fewer. If you live in a building with 7 units or more, the city points you to your property manager, and to the private haulers that serve large residential buildings.
Why it can’t go in the trash
The city’s page says the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has banned mattresses from disposal, and that recycling them is now a state requirement.
How to prepare it
Place the mattress at the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of your appointment, or after 5 p.m. the night before. It has to go where your trash and recycling normally sit, not on private property. Keep it clear of vehicles and bins, put nothing on top of it, and do not crush or cut it. Mattresses that are soiled, dirty or have bed bugs must be bagged and fully sealed, and the city says failing to do that may result in a missed collection.
Limits and deadlines
Curbside mattress pickup is limited to 10 items per calendar year. Cancellations have to be made before 12 p.m. the day before the appointment. If the crew misses you, report it within 24 hours of your scheduled date, or you’ll have to reschedule.
What counts as a mattress
The city accepts memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid and latex mattresses. Futons, mattress toppers and similar items are not accepted for this program, and may be placed out for curbside trash collection instead.
Fridges and televisions are separate
Appliances and electronics containing Freons or cathode ray tubes cannot go in the trash under state law, so the city runs a separate special collection for fridges, freezers, water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, televisions, laptops and computer monitors. That appointment takes a maximum of 5 items per visit. Fridge and freezer doors have to be removed and all food taken out, or the item won’t be collected.
Planning a move or a sale
Book the mattress and special item appointments before you book the movers. Clearing a home out in the right order? Ask me. Diana Kim, REALTOR®, eXp Realty.
Questions
Common questions
Can I put a mattress out with Boston trash?
No. The City of Boston will not collect mattresses or box springs with curbside trash, and says the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has banned mattresses from disposal. You have to schedule a curbside pickup.
How many mattresses will Boston collect a year?
Curbside mattress pickup is limited to 10 items per calendar year. Past that, the city says to contact a private mattress recycling hauler.
What if I live in a large building?
The city collects from most buildings with 6 units or fewer. At 7 units or more, the FAQ says to contact your property manager, and private mattress recycling haulers can be found online.
When does the mattress have to be at the curb?
By 6 a.m. on the day of your appointment, or placed out after 5 p.m. the night before, where your trash and recycling are normally collected.
What if my mattress is soiled or has bed bugs?
It has to be bagged and fully sealed. The city says failure to do that may result in a missed collection.
How do I get rid of a fridge or a television?
Those need a separate special collection appointment, because state law prohibits throwing items containing Freons or cathode ray tubes in the trash. A maximum of 5 items can be collected per appointment, and fridge doors have to be removed and food taken out.
Sources
- City of Boston, Mattress Recycling, Keep In Mind: 'Curbside mattress pick-up is limited to 10 items per calendar year. If you have exceeded your limit, you will need to contact a private mattress recycling hauler.' FAQ: 'I have reached my limit of 10 items. What are my options for recycling? If you have reached your limit of 10 items, you will need to contact a private hauler to properly dispose of your mattress.'
- City of Boston, Special Collection Items, keep in mind: 'Special item collection is limited to 10 items per calendar year. A maximum of 5 items can be collected per appointment. If you have exceeded your limit, you will need to contact a private hauler.'
Written by Diana Yeji Kim — REALTOR® at eXp Realty, serving Greater Boston in English, Korean, and Japanese.
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