The reality of mattress disposal
Mattresses are the single most illegally-dumped large item in Colorado. The reasons are simple: they're oversized, heavy, awkward, and most facilities won't take them as ordinary trash.
A typical queen mattress is 60 inches by 80 inches and weighs 50-90 pounds. Add a box spring and you're at 100-160 pounds of awkwardly-shaped, hard-to-lift bedding. They don't fit in most cars, they don't roll efficiently, and they pose real injury risk to lift solo. The City of Golden's bulk pickup program will take them in some scheduled windows but acceptance is far from guaranteed.
The bigger problem: mattresses are landfill-restricted in some Colorado counties because they take up enormous space, decompose slowly, and contain flame retardants and other materials that complicate disposal. Many landfills charge a special mattress fee ($10-30 each) on top of weight-based pricing. Other facilities won't take them at all without a specific permit.
The result: roadside dumping is rampant. Drive any rural Jefferson, Boulder, or Adams County road and you'll see mattresses thrown in ditches and behind dumpsters. We don't do that. Every mattress we haul is either donated to a verified partner, routed to a certified mattress recycler that separates the steel springs, foam, and fabric, or routed to a properly permitted landfill where the bedding fee is paid.
Pricing for mattress removal
Most mattress removals price as single-item jobs:
- $65–$80
- $80–$95
- $95–$110
- add $15–$23
- $50–$65 each
A note on labor-intensive jobs: Stairs, third-floor walk-ups, or long carries from the back of a property may push the price higher — we quote in writing before any work begins.
Curbside pickup discounts: If the mattress is already at the curb, driveway end, or just inside an open garage when we arrive, we offer a discount off the standard price. Discount amount confirmed at quote.
Where it actually goes
Mattresses get one of three pathways depending on condition.
If the mattress is in good condition — no stains, no tears, no bedbug exposure, less than ~10 years old, and from a smoke-free home — we route it to PickUpPlease.org or other veterans-organization partners first. When veterans organizations can't take it, we route to ARC, Goodwill, or other Jefferson County donation partners. Most donation centers are strict about mattress condition because of bedbug and stain concerns, so genuinely donatable mattresses are the minority.
For mattresses that aren't donatable but are in reasonable shape, we route to certified mattress recyclers in Colorado. Mattress recycling separates the steel springs (90%+ recyclable), the foam (recyclable into carpet padding or insulation), the fabric (limited recycling), and the wood frame. A typical mattress can be 80-90% recycled by weight at a proper facility.
Only mattresses that can't be recycled — bedbug exposure, severe damage, or contamination — go to permitted landfills where we pay the proper mattress disposal fee. We never dump mattresses.
Veterans organizations always come first when donation is possible.
Disposal options before calling us
Some Colorado mattress disposal options that may be cheaper or free, with honest tradeoffs:
City of Golden bulk pickup
Limited bulk pickup windows accept mattresses occasionally. Check cityofgolden.gov for current schedule. Pros: free. Cons: infrequent, strict access requirements, bedbug-suspected mattresses excluded.
Mattress recycler drop-off
You can drop off at certified recyclers like Spring Back Colorado (Denver) for a smaller fee than full service removal. Pros: cheaper if you have a truck. Cons: requires a vehicle that fits a mattress, fee still applies, requires driving across the metro.
Donation drop-off
If your mattress is genuinely in good condition, ARC and Goodwill take them with strict acceptance criteria. Pros: free. Cons: most mattresses don't meet their criteria; bedbug concerns lead to many rejections at the door.
Retailer haul-away
Many mattress retailers (Mattress Firm, Sleep Number, Casper) will haul your old mattress when delivering a new one, often free with purchase. Pros: same-day, included in delivery. Cons: only works if you're buying new.
What to expect from our crew
Text us photos with the room location, mattress size, and any access notes (stairs, narrow doorways). Written quote back in 10 minutes. Same-day service for most addresses.
Standard crew is two for mattresses. We use mattress bags for transport when bedbug or contamination concerns exist. Most mattress removals take 10-20 minutes on site. We provide a donation receipt or recycling documentation on request.