How to Recycle Mattresses in Chicago: Drop-Off Locations, Fees & What Happens After Pickup

Chicago's free bulk pickup will haul a mattress away, but the City runs it as refuse collection rather than recycling — and it serves only single-family homes and apartment buildings of four units or fewer. Larger buildings must arrange private collection. To have a mattress actually recycled, you need a private hauler or recycling facility. Most mattresses are 75-90% recyclable — steel springs, foam, and fabric all get repurposed.

Why Mattress Recycling Matters

Chicago throws away roughly 200,000 mattresses every year. Each one takes up 23-40 cubic feet of landfill space and can take decades to decompose. But mattresses are mostly recyclable:

• Steel springs → melted down for new metal products

• Foam padding → carpet padding, insulation, pet beds

• Cotton/polyester fabric → industrial wiping cloths, fiber fill

• Wood frames → mulch or biomass fuel

Recycling one mattress keeps about 75 pounds of material out of landfills.

🛏️ Where to Recycle Mattresses in Chicago

City of Chicago Bulk Pickup (Free Disposal, Not Recycling)

The City collects household refuse only from single-family homes and apartment buildings of four units or fewer — larger buildings must arrange private collection. If your building qualifies, schedule a free bulk pickup through 311:

• Call: 311 (or 312-744-5000 outside Chicago)

• What's accepted: Mattresses, box springs (up to 2 per pickup)

• Prep: Bag mattresses in plastic if possible (required for bed bugs)

• Schedule: Requests usually scheduled within 5-7 business days

• Limit: One bulk pickup per month per address

Set items out by 6 AM on your scheduled day, in the alley or at the curb — whichever your address is collected from. Bulk collection is a refuse service, so don't count on a mattress put out for it being recycled.

Private Pickup & Recycling Services

The Junkluggers of Chicago NW Suburbs

• Phone: (224) 309-2395

• Based in: Franklin Park, IL — serves Chicago and the surrounding area

• Service: Mattress removal, picked up from your home

• Cost: Quoted by free on-site estimate — no published flat rate

• Notes: Same-day or next-day service where possible; they donate and recycle what they can

How to Prepare Your Mattress for Recycling

Follow these steps before drop-off or pickup:

1. Check for bed bugs — If present, wrap tightly in plastic and label clearly. Some facilities won't accept infested mattresses

2. Remove bedding — Sheets, mattress covers, and pillows go in regular trash or textile recycling

3. Wrap in plastic (recommended) — Use a mattress disposal bag from hardware stores ($5-10). Keeps facility clean and meets city requirements for bulk pickup

4. Separate box springs — Count as separate items at most facilities

5. Remove metal frames — These go to scrap metal recycling, not mattress recyclers

Don't cut up your mattress. Facilities need them intact to efficiently separate materials.

What Happens to Recycled Mattresses

Here's the breakdown process at Chicago-area facilities:

Step 1: Inspection
Mattresses are sorted by type (innerspring, memory foam, hybrid) and condition.

Step 2: Deconstruction
Workers or machines remove fabric covers, cut away foam layers, and extract steel springs.

Step 3: Material Separation

• Steel springs → baled and shipped to scrap metal processors

• Foam → shredded into chunks for carpet padding or insulation

• Fabric → cut into industrial rags or recycled into fiber

• Wood → chipped for mulch or sent to biomass plants

Step 4: Resale
Recycled materials are sold to manufacturers. Steel typically fetches the highest price.

A twin mattress yields roughly:

• 15-20 lbs of steel

• 10-15 lbs of foam

• 5-8 lbs of fabric

• 5-10 lbs of wood (if present)

Mattress Donation Options in Chicago

If your mattress is less than 5 years old, stain-free, and has no structural damage, consider donation instead:

Salvation Army

• Phone: 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825)

• Service: Free home pickup for qualifying items

• Requirements: Gently used, no visible damage

Important: Most charities have strict mattress policies due to health regulations. Call before loading your car.

What About Curbside Pickup?

Chicago's regular trash service does not accept mattresses. If you put a mattress out on your regular trash day without scheduling a bulk pickup, it won't be collected.

Your options:

• Schedule a free bulk pickup through 311

• Use a private mattress recycling facility

• Hire a junk removal service

Don't leave mattresses in alleys or on the curb unscheduled — you'll get a $50-500 fine for illegal dumping.

How Much Does Mattress Recycling Cost?

Hauling a mattress to a facility yourself avoids the pickup fee, but you'll still pay whatever that facility charges to take it. Call ahead: fees vary and not every site accepts mattresses from the public.

Common Questions

Can I recycle a moldy mattress?
Most facilities accept moldy mattresses, but call ahead. Severe mold may require special handling.

What if my mattress has bed bugs?
Wrap it tightly in plastic and label it. City bulk pickup will take it. Some private facilities charge extra or refuse infested mattresses.

Do I need to remove the mattress cover?
No — facilities handle this. Just remove sheets and bedding.

Can I recycle a waterbed?
Yes, but drain it completely first. The vinyl bladder is recyclable at most facilities.

What about memory foam mattresses?
Fully recyclable. Foam gets shredded for carpet padding or furniture fill.