To throw out a mattress in NYC, seal it completely inside a plastic bag, then set it at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the night before your regular trash collection day. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will take it for free. Skip the bag or miss the window and you risk a fine starting at $50, plus a mattress left sitting on the sidewalk.1NYC311. Mattress or Box Spring Disposal
The Plastic Bag Rule
Every mattress, box spring, and futon going to the curb has to be fully enclosed in a plastic bag before DSNY will collect it. The rule exists to keep bed bugs from spreading during pickup.2New York City Department of Sanitation. Furniture, Mattresses, and Rugs
Any color plastic bag works except red or orange.1NYC311. Mattress or Box Spring Disposal Mattress-sized bags are sold at hardware stores, home improvement centers, and moving supply shops. DSNY doesn’t hand them out, so pick one up yourself. Cover the entire mattress and seal every opening with heavy-duty tape. If a corner is exposed or the tape peels off, an inspector can still write a ticket.
When and Where to Put It Out
Set the bagged mattress at the curb between 6 PM and midnight the evening before your bulk trash collection day.1NYC311. Mattress or Box Spring Disposal Putting it out earlier than 6 PM can draw a violation on its own. Everything has to be curbside by midnight so crews can start collecting after 12:01 AM.3NYC Rules. Set-out Times for Collection
One detail trips people up: mattresses go out on your trash day, not your recycling day.2New York City Department of Sanitation. Furniture, Mattresses, and Rugs If your building has separate schedules, check before dragging anything downstairs. You can look up your address on DSNY’s collection schedule or call 311.4NYC311. Trash, Recycling, and Compost Collection Schedule
Place the mattress at your own curb, not in front of a neighbor’s building, and keep it clear of the sidewalk path and the street. You can put out up to six bulk items per collection day. A mattress and a box spring together count as two of your six.5New York City Department of Sanitation. Large Items
Fines If You Skip the Bag
DSNY leaves improperly disposed mattresses at the curb and can also issue a fine. Penalties climb with repeat violations:1NYC311. Mattress or Box Spring Disposal
- First offense: $50
- Second offense: $100
- Third and any later offense: $200
Most tickets come from skipping the bag entirely or leaving part of the mattress uncovered. Tape the seams thoroughly — a bag that came loose on the curb is treated the same as no bag at all.
If DSNY Doesn’t Pick It Up
If your properly bagged mattress is still sitting at the curb the morning after collection day, you can report a missed pickup starting at 8 AM. Call 311 or file a complaint online.6New York City Department of Sanitation. Collection Services for NYC Residents Leave the mattress in place until they come back for it.
Before filing, confirm you set it out on the correct day and in a sealed bag. If it wasn’t prepared right, DSNY passed it over on purpose, and a missed-collection complaint won’t fix that. Re-bag it and wait for the next trash day.
Other Ways to Get Rid of It
Free curbside pickup is the easiest route, but not the only one.
If the mattress is clean and still usable, donation keeps it out of a landfill. Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore accept mattresses in good condition, though policies vary by location. Call the specific store first. Stained or damaged mattresses will be turned away.
Recycling is limited in New York. The national Bye Bye Mattress program operates in California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Rhode Island, but not here.7Bye Bye Mattress. Ready to Get Rid of Your Mattress? Some private recyclers around the city do accept mattresses for a fee, so it’s worth searching for one in your borough if recycling matters to you.
Need it gone before your next trash day? Private junk removal services will come to your apartment and haul it out, typically around $140 to $200 for a single mattress in NYC. That’s a lot for something DSNY does free, but it can be the right call during a move or in a building that won’t let you stage bulk items at the curb.