How to get rid of a mattress – all you need to know about mattress disposal

If you're considering buying a new mattress – or you've aready bought one – you may be wondering how to get rid of a mattress so that your old one doesn't have to start living in the garage.

After all, even the best mattresses have an expiry date and can start to sag or become uncomfortable over time.

If you're wondering how often you should change your mattress, then according to the Better Sleep Council 'While there is no hard and fast rule about how long a mattress lasts, it’s suggested that most have a life span of around 7 years'. That means we'll likely all have to dispose of a lot of mattresses in our lifetime.

As such, we've consulted the experts to learn more about mattress disposal. From recycling to selling, our guide covers all the ways you can responsibly dispose of a worn out mattress.

How to get rid of a mattress

There are five main ways to get rid of a mattress and we've outlined each below, including a couple of ways that won't cost you any money. Which option you choose will depend on several factors, so keep that in mind as you read on.

1. Donate it to charity

If your old mattress is still in good condition and you're just upgrading the size or style, then the best way to get rid of an old mattress is to donate it to charity.

Many charities offer a free collection service for pre-loved mattresses, although this will depend on your locality. A quick online search should turn up results near you, but charities such as the British Heart Foundation, Shelter, and the Salvation Army can be a good point of call.

However, you do need to ensure the mattress you're donating is in good, usable condition with any fire safety labels still attached. Often the charity will request photographs of the mattress to check it will be suitable for resale or reuse before collection is arranged. Mattresses that are stained, broken, or damaged in any way will not be accepted.

2. Sell it second hand

If your old mattress is still in good condition, you might also be able to earn some funds towards a new and improved mattress by selling it.

If you regularly clean your mattress and have been rotating your mattress so there are no depressions or indents in it then you may be well placed to earn a few quid by listing your old mattress on a second-hand selling site. Gumtree, Preloved, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are all good options to try.

Just make sure to specify that the mattress is collection only, unless you have a van and are willing to transport it to your buyer, and remember to be as transparent as possible when describing the condition of the mattress.

If you're on the other side of the equation and are the one purchasing a second-hand mattress, just make sure you don't fall foul of these common mistakes when buying a mattress.

3. Make use of a removal service when you buy a new mattress

If your mattress isn't in good enough condition to donate or sell, then you'll want to know how to recycle a mattress. The easiest way to get rid of an old mattress responsibly is to take advantage of any mattress removal and recycling services that are offered by the brand you're buying your new mattress from.

Many brands offer free removal of your old mattress at the point of delivery, whilst others will charge you a small fee for the removal of your worn out mattress – usually costing between £25 and £50 depending on the mattress size.

Just make sure that the mattress manufacturer states that it will dispose of your old mattress responsibly by recycling as many components as possible rather than taking the mattress to landfill.

'None of the materials from our recycled mattresses go to landfill', says Fabio Perrotta, Director of Buying, Dreams. 'The springs, once separated from the mattress, are sent to be melted down into new light iron. The mattress is shredded and the mixed shredded fibre is turned into fuel pellets for energy and cement production'.

Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, says the same of his brands recycling service, '100% of the mattress is broken down into its components, which are then sent off to industries that can benefit from these raw materials. Steel from the springs, wool, cotton fillings and even the cushioning material all have a new life.'

The only downside of this option is if you're taking advantage of a sleep trial to test out a new mattress before you commit. If you don't like the new mattress and want to return it, you'll be left without a mattress to sleep on in the interim. In this case you might want to consider our next options.

4. Pay for a removal and recycling service

If you don't want to take advantage of a mattress removal service when you buy your new mattress – or the retailer you buy from doesn't offer one – then you can also arrange collection privately.

The Mattress Recycling People will collect any pre-loved mattress and divert it from landfill by responsibly recycling as many components as possible. Available for under £50, customers can book a collection slot via the website for a chosen date and time. For an additional fee, the company will also remove and recycle divans and bedframes.

Popular online mattress retailer Simba also offers a standalone collection service that means you don't need to buy a new mattress from the brand in order to dispose of an old one. Instead, for £50, as of writing, you can book a collection of any size or brand of mattress for removal and recycling.

5. Ask your local council to collect it

You could also check how much it costs to have your local council collect and dispose of your old mattress.

Different councils will offer different services for mattress disposal. Some may collect it kerbside and recycle it for you. Others will point you in the direction of your local household waste recycling centre (otherwise known as the tip), which will, of course, require you to find a vehicle large enough to transport the mattress.

Note that not all council recycling centres accept mattresses, so check the guidance beforehand to save yourself a wasted trip.

However, most councils do offer mattress collection, though the service is often in high demand and there will be a fee to pay. Prices vary, our research has found it can cost as little as £12 and as much as £50.

This option does come with a warning though. 'There’s also no guarantee that your old mattress will become part of a mattress recycling programme if you use your local council’s old mattress disposal services', says Martin Seeley of MattressNextDay. 'It might end up as one of the 8 million that make their way to landfill sites across the UK.'

FAQs

How can I dispose of a mattress for free in the UK?

Whether you can get rid of your mattress for free ultimately depends on the condition it's in. You can donate a usable mattress to charity for free, but the emphasis here is on usable; if someone else isn't willing to pay for it, a charity won't be willing to collect it.

'If your mattress is in good condition, one of the easiest ways to get rid of it is to donate it to charity', says Fabio from Dreams. 'British Heart Foundation, The Salvation Army or Shelter are just a few that accept them, but check their websites for more information.'

You may be able to source a free collection of your mattress on sites like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and Preloved, but this really does depend if anyone's looking for one in your local area.

Can I take my old mattress to the tip?

Check online to see if your local tip accepts old mattresses. Many of them do, though some may charge a small fee as it's considered a bulky item.

However, this option isn't without some problems to overcome. 'Deciding to take your old mattress up to your local tip can be problematic', says Martin from MattressNextDay. 'If your car isn’t big enough to take the mattress when it’s flat, you’ll need to roll it and tie it up'.

The other issue with taking your mattress to the tip is that it can often mean the mattress isn't recycled. Even the oldest of mattresses have materials in them that can be put to good use, and though recycling them does come at a cost, it's good to know that the mattress isn't just contributing to landfill. The other benefit of a recycling service over the tip is that your mattress will be collected for you, so no need to struggle to get it into a car or van.

So there we go, five easy ways to get rid of a mattress responsibly and with minimum effort.

That said, if you have somewhere to store a mattress such as a garage or shed and a little more time and energy on your hands, you might also want to use your old worn-out mattress as the basis for some DIY projects. Our guide to how to reuse an old mattress in the garden has several genius ideas from DIY experts, inlcuding ways to reuse memory foam at home.

Whichever option you choose for mattress disposal, all will free up space in your bedroom so you can invest in the mattress of your dreams.