How do you get rid of a mattress in the Inland Empire?
You've got three main options for ditching an old mattress in the Inland Empire: drop it at a recycling or bulky-waste site yourself, schedule a municipal bulky-item pickup through your city, or have a junk removal crew haul it for you (a flat $99 for a mattress set). What's right for you comes down to whether you have a truck, the time, and a way to handle the heavy lifting. Here's how each option works.
Why you can't just toss a mattress
Mattresses don't belong in your regular trash bin, and dumping one on the curb or in an alley is illegal dumping — which can mean fines. They're also bulky, awkward, and tough to fit in a normal car. On top of that, California recycles mattresses through a statewide program, so there's a right way to get rid of them.
Option 1: Free and municipal options
Many Inland Empire cities offer bulky-item pickup as part of your trash service, often a set number of free pickups per year. You schedule it with your waste hauler and set the mattress out on the assigned day. California also runs a mattress recycling program with drop-off locations that accept mattresses and box springs at no charge.
- Cost: Often free, but limited to a set number of pickups per year
- Best for: People with time to schedule and wait, and who can move the mattress to the curb
- Downsides: Wait times, scheduling windows, and you do the heavy lifting
Check your specific city's rules, since programs differ from Rancho Cucamonga to Riverside to junk removal in Fontana and beyond.
Option 2: Recycle it yourself
If you've got a truck and a free morning, you can haul the mattress to a recycling drop-off site yourself. Mattresses are largely recyclable — the steel springs, foam, and wood frame can all be recovered. The catch is the loading, tie-down, drive, and unloading are all on you.
Option 3: Professional mattress pickup
If you'd rather skip the hassle, a junk removal crew loads and hauls the mattress for you, no truck or lifting required. Pricing for a mattress is straightforward:
- Mattress & box spring: $99 (a $25 state recycling fee may apply)
- Single-item minimum: $99
- Add a couch too: $99
Because we price by volume, the smartest move is to combine the mattress with other junk. If you're already clearing a bedroom or doing a move-out, adding the mattress to a half-trailer load often costs less per item than a standalone pickup. We recycle mattresses through proper channels, and we're licensed and insured with same-day service often available.
Which option should you choose?
- Choose municipal pickup if it's free in your city, you can wait, and you can move the mattress yourself.
- Choose self-recycling if you own a truck and want zero cost beyond your time.
- Choose pro pickup if you want it gone today with no lifting, or you have other items to clear at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take stained or old mattresses?
Yes. We haul mattresses in any condition and route them to recycling where possible.
Can you pick up just one mattress?
We can. A single mattress falls under our minimum, so combining it with other items is usually the better value.
Is mattress pickup available same-day?
Often, yes. Call early in the day and we'll do our best to get a crew out to you the same day across the 909 and 951.
Need that mattress gone? Call or text (909) 329-2952 for a same-day quote, or get a free quote online.