Last updated April 2026

How to Dispose of a Mattress in South Florida

Your complete 2026 guide to mattress disposal across Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

Quick Answer

The fastest way to dispose of a mattress in South Florida is professional pickup — Umuve hauls it same-day starting at $89, handles all transport, and recycles 89% of materials. Free curbside pickup is available in all three counties but requires advance scheduling and specific placement rules. Donation is possible if the mattress is stain-free and structurally sound.

Book Free Pickup Call (561) 944-1636

In This Guide

1. Option 1: Professional Removal2. Option 2: Municipal Curbside3. Option 3: Donation4. Option 4: DIY Disposal5. Cost Comparison6. Environmental Impact7. Common Mistakes8. FAQ

Option 1: Professional Removal by Umuve

The fastest option — starting at $89 – $199.

Umuve picks up your mattress same-day from anywhere in your home — bedroom, upstairs, storage unit. No prep needed. Two-person crews handle king-sized mattresses, bunk beds, and adjustable bases without damage to walls or floors. The mattress is wrapped, loaded, and taken to a certified mattress recycling facility where steel springs, foam, and fabric are separated for recovery.

What is Included

  • Full labor and carrying
  • Same-day service available
  • Recycling or donation of usable mattresses
  • No prep or disassembly needed
  • All hauling and disposal fees
Book Same-Day Pickup Call (561) 944-1636

Also see: Mattress Disposal service page — Available in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton

Option 2: Municipal / County Pickup

Free for South Florida residents — but requires advance scheduling.

Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) allows up to 2 bulk items per scheduled pickup. Schedule at pbcswa.com or call (561) 697-2700. Mattresses must be placed at the curb by 6 AM on pickup day. Bed bugs or visible infestation may result in rejection — bag the mattress in plastic if there is any concern.

Broward County

Broward County Municipal Services requires you to schedule bulk pickup through your specific city (not the county). Most cities allow 4-6 bulk items. Fort Lauderdale residents call (954) 828-5150. Typical wait is 5-10 business days. Mattresses exceeding 60 inches wide may be refused — check with your city.

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County solid waste allows 2 bulk items per week curbside without scheduling for most unincorporated areas. City of Miami residents call 311. Miami Beach has specific bulk pickup days by neighborhood — check miamigov.com/solidwaste. Mattresses must be set out no earlier than the night before pickup.

Option 3: Donation

Mattresses can be donated if they are stain-free, bed bug-free, and structurally intact (no broken springs or torn fabric). Habitat for Humanity ReStores in South Florida accept mattresses in good condition — call your local ReStore to confirm. Goodwill locations in Miami-Dade accept twin and full mattresses but rarely queen or king due to storage constraints. The Salvation Army accepts queen and king mattresses with advance arrangement. St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores in Broward County are worth calling if other options are full.

Option 4: DIY Disposal

DIY mattress disposal means either hauling it yourself to a county transfer station or breaking it down for easier transport. Renting a pickup truck from U-Haul or Home Depot costs $19-$40 for a few hours. Transfer station fees in South Florida run $30-$75 per mattress depending on county. Breaking down a mattress: cut the fabric cover off with a utility knife, remove and separate the foam (can go in regular trash in small bags), and take the steel spring coil to a scrap metal recycler — they often pay $5-$15 per unit. Memory foam mattresses have no spring coil and must go to a foam recycler or the landfill.

Cost Comparison

Compare all options side by side.

Option Cost Timeline Your Effort Eco Impact
Umuve Professional Pickup$89 – $199Same dayZero89% recycled
County CurbsideFree5–14 days waitMove to curbLandfill likely
Donation (Habitat/Goodwill)Free2–7 daysTransport requiredBest if accepted
DIY Haul to Transfer Station$50 – $120Half-dayHighMostly landfill

Environmental Impact

Mattresses are one of the most problematic landfill items — a single queen mattress takes up 40+ cubic feet of space and contains materials that take centuries to break down. South Florida sends roughly 400,000 mattresses to landfill each year. When recycled properly, a queen mattress yields approximately 25 lbs of steel (melted for rebar and new steel products), 15 lbs of foam (repurposed as carpet padding), and 3 lbs of fabric fiber (used in industrial rags or insulation). Umuve recycles 89% of every mattress it collects, diverting an average of 43 lbs of material per unit from South Florida landfills.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving it on the curb without scheduling

Unscheduled bulk items left at the curb can earn you a code enforcement citation in most South Florida cities. HOA violations typically run $50-$200 per day. Always call your city or schedule online before putting anything on the curb.

Donating a mattress that will be rejected

Most charities inspect mattresses on arrival. Any visible stain, odor, or structural damage results in rejection. You will then need to haul it somewhere else. When in doubt, book professional pickup.

Assuming a hotel will take your old mattress

Hotels and furnished rental operators will not accept used residential mattresses due to liability and health code requirements. This is a common misconception.

Illegally dumping

South Florida counties issue $500–$10,000 fines for illegal dumping of mattresses. Cameras at popular dump sites result in hundreds of citations per year. The fine is never worth it when free curbside or $89 professional pickup exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to dispose of a mattress in South Florida? +

Professional pickup starts at $89 for a twin or full and runs up to $199 for a king or adjustable base. County curbside is free with 5-14 day scheduling. DIY haul to a transfer station costs $50-$120 including truck rental and dump fees.

Can I leave a mattress on the curb in South Florida? +

Only after scheduling with your municipality. Unscheduled bulk items can result in code enforcement citations of $50-$200 per day. Palm Beach SWA, Broward cities, and Miami-Dade all require advance scheduling for bulk pickup.

Does Habitat for Humanity take mattresses? +

Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept mattresses in excellent condition — no stains, no odor, no structural damage. Call your local ReStore before transporting, as acceptance varies by location and current inventory.

How long does same-day mattress pickup take with Umuve? +

Most pickups take 15-30 minutes from arrival. You book online, we give you a 2-hour arrival window, and two crew members carry the mattress from anywhere in your home and load it. No prep needed.

What happens to a recycled mattress? +

At certified mattress recycling facilities, the mattress is disassembled by machine. Steel spring coils are separated and sent to scrap metal processors. Foam is compressed and sold to carpet pad manufacturers. Fabric cover is processed into industrial fiber. About 89% of materials are recovered.

Can Umuve remove a mattress that has bed bugs? +

Yes. Inform us when booking. We use sealed mattress bags for transport to contain any infestation, and all crew members follow bed bug protocols. The mattress goes directly to a disposal facility, not recycling.

Related Guides

How to Dispose of a Couch How to Take Apart a Bed Frame Declutter Before Moving Estate Cleanout Checklist Junk Removal Cost Guide (South Florida)

Ready to Get Rid of It?

Umuve serves all of South Florida with same-day pickup starting at $89. Licensed, insured, and 92% recycled or donated. No hidden fees.

Book Free Pickup Call (561) 944-1636

SMS: (844) 435-6005 • Palm Beach, Broward & Miami-Dade