How To Dispose Of A Mattress For Free

With recommendations to replace your mattress every seven years by The Sleep Council, replacing your mattress often leads to the need to get rid of your old mattress. Fortunately, there are a wide range of options available to individuals looking to get rid of their mattress free of charge, but it is important to consider the advantages and drawbacks of doing so. Our experts weigh up the pros and cons of disposing of a mattress for free.

One option to get rid of your mattress for free is to sell it, either to a friend or online. There are a number of platforms that you can use to list and sell your old mattress, including but not limited to Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Shpock and Gumtree. By listing your spare mattress online for sale, you have more flexibility over how much you list the item for and get for it. 

The difficulty is, however, that due to their size, mattresses are virtually impossible to ship, meaning that you need to find a buyer who lives locally and has the ability to collect the mattress, which is a challenge itself.

Advantages 

• It is possible to make some money from your old mattress, which is even better than just getting rid of your mattress for free. 
• You could be giving a mattress to someone who needs it but might not be able to afford it for the same price it retails for. 
• There is a range of platforms to choose from when selling your mattress online making selling simple. 

Disadvantages 

• There isn’t as much flexibility when it comes to choosing when you get rid of it or when it is collected since it will typically be on the buyer’s terms. 
• There can be a charge to sell online, particularly if you sell your items using major online platforms such as eBay, so it is not entirely ‘free’. 
• Your mattress will need to be in good condition in order for it to be desirable to potential buyers, which it is unlikely to be if it has already been used for longer than the recommended seven years, or where it has suffered wear and tear. 
• It can take a long time for someone to be interested in your mattress, and there is no guarantee that it will sell, which means that the mattress could be lying around your home taking up space and collecting dust for some time. 
• It can be difficult to price your mattress appropriately since it depends on a variety of factors such as brand, model, size, fabric, condition, age, mattress type, and materials used. 

Another way to dispose of your mattress for free is to take it to your local recycling centre. Local recycling centres tend to be open throughout the week and are a perfect way to get rid of your domestic waste so long as there is not too much of it. When you take your old mattress to a recycling centre, it will be deconstructed and separated into different materials and recycled appropriately.

Advantages 

• It’s free to get rid of your mattress at a local recycling centre or tip, making it a very cheap option for disposal. 
• When you take a mattress to a local recycling centre, it can be deconstructed and broken down into different components and materials in order to be recycled, which is great for the environment. 
• It’s one of the quickest options to get rid of a mattress. 

Disadvantages 

• Due to the bulky nature of mattresses, they can be difficult to transport without the help of a specialist vehicle or the help of another person. This means that disposing of your mattress by taking it to the local recycling centre can be more stressful than saving money is worth. 
• Some local recycling centres will accept certain materials, whilst others might not. Therefore, before going to visit your local tip, you should find out whether your local recycling centre will accept a mattress. 

Find a list of recycling centres here

So long as your mattress is in a fit state and meets all of the requirements, you will be able to donate your old mattress to a non-profit organisation or local charity. This is an option many people forget about since they assume that because their mattress may not be working for them, it could still be of value to someone else. 

There are numerous different charities that accept furniture, however, we recommend enquiring with them first since the things they accept may vary depending on demand and space. We recommend considering charities such as the British Heart Foundation, Furniture Donation Network, Emmaus or the British Red Cross, to name a few.

However, just like other means of free disposal, there are a few advantages and disadvantages of donating your mattress to charity. 

Advantages 

• You can donate your mattress in aid of those who need it since your donation can support the work of certain charities once sold.
• Donating your mattress means that it has greater longevity, and avoids ending up in landfills, meaning this is one of the most eco-friendly options. 
• Some charities offer mattress collection services, which makes your life easier. 

Disadvantages

• Local charity stores will only accept mattresses that are in good condition, meaning that mattresses with certain flaws or damage will not be accepted as they are unlikely to sell. It will also need to be very clean and meet stringent hygiene standards, meaning you may need to take a few hours to wash it also. 
• Not all charities offer mattress collection services, which means that if you wish to donate a mattress you will need access to a large vehicle. 
• You cannot donate mattresses without a manufacturer’s fire safety label intact, since all mattresses need to refer to the fire safety standard BS7177. 
• Certain charities will only accept mattresses if they are in demand since they have restrictions on space and storage. This tends to be the case with smaller, local charity shops since mattresses are very bulky and can take up a lot of space if unsold. 
• You may need to store your spare mattress for a while before it can be collected or accepted by a charity. 

Some people prefer to take getting rid of their old mattress into their own hands, typically by burning it, putting it into their domestic waste bin, or leaving it outside for someone else to collect. However, this is not necessarily wise, and could even be illegal! 

By leaving your mattress outside of your property, with the hope that someone will collect it, you are also fly-tipping – a crime which carries the risk of a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment. Likewise, it can be highly problematic to burn a mattress since it gives off dangerous and damaging fumes. 

Whilst there are a wide array of options for those looking to get rid of their old mattress for free, not all of these options offer the speed, convenience and flexibility that a mattress removal service does. We offer fast and efficient mattress collection services, as well as general furniture disposal, including the option for same-day collections (subject to availability).

Our professional rubbish removal team do all of the work for you, making the process as stress-free as possible. Get your free, no-obligation quote today.