Hours, accepted materials and fees at public facilities change. Details here were checked in November 2026 against the operators’ own pages, linked under Sources. Call or check online before you load the truck.
1. Ask the store when you buy a new one
Many mattress retailers and delivery services offer to take the old mattress away when they deliver the new one, sometimes for a fee. It is usually the easiest option, so ask before you order and get the take-back price in writing.
2. Donate or pass it on, if it is in good shape
A clean mattress without stains, tears, broken springs or pests may be accepted by some charities and shelters, but many no longer take used mattresses for hygiene reasons. Call before you drive. Local buy-nothing and marketplace groups are another route for a mattress in good condition, especially a nearly new one from a move or a guest room.
3. Take it to the transfer station
If you can move it, a mattress can be self-hauled as garbage to the Port Angeles Regional Transfer Station, where it is weighed with the rest of your load. The Blue Mountain Transfer Station refuses furniture larger than 4 by 4 feet, which rules out most mattresses. Tie it down well: mattresses catch the wind and are a common highway hazard.
4. Hire a junk removal service
A hauler will carry the mattress out and take it away, usually for a single-item or minimum charge. This is worth it if stairs are involved or you have no truck. See junk removal services and pricing for what to ask.
Is there a mattress recycling program in Washington?
At the time of writing there is no statewide mattress take-back program operating in Washington. Mattress stewardship legislation, which would have manufacturers fund collection and recycling as in California, Oregon and a few other states, has been introduced in the Legislature in recent sessions. The Department of Ecology lists the product stewardship programs that are in operation. Some private recyclers in western Washington break mattresses down for steel, foam and wood, but they are generally not on the Peninsula.
Bed bugs and damaged mattresses
If a mattress has bed bugs, do not donate or sell it. Wrap it fully in plastic, seal it with tape, mark it clearly and take it straight to disposal so the insects do not spread. Many people also cut or mark infested mattresses so they are not picked up and reused.
Moving a mattress safely
- Two people, gloves and a mattress bag or old sheet make it much easier.
- Fold or roll only foam mattresses designed for it; innerspring mattresses can injure you if they spring back.
- In a pickup bed, lay it flat and tie it down at several points across the top.
Couches, recliners and other bulky furniture
The same options apply to sofas and armchairs. Furniture in good condition can go to a reuse store or charity that accepts it; call first, because many will not take upholstered furniture with stains, tears or pet damage. Otherwise it is self-hauled garbage to the Regional Transfer Station, charged by weight, or a single-item pickup by a hauler. Sleeper sofas and recliners contain metal mechanisms and are heavy; plan for two or three people.
Before you decide
- Check the mattress warranty if it is fairly new; a defect claim may be an option.
- Measure doorways and stairs before you try to move a large mattress or box spring out of the house.
- If you are also replacing the bed frame, a metal frame can go in a separate scrap metal load at the Regional Transfer Station.
Mattresses in a move or estate cleanout
If several mattresses are going at once, as in an estate or rental cleanout, a hauler or one larger self-haul trip is usually cheaper than separate visits that each hit the minimum charge. Bag them to keep them clean and dry if they might be reused, and tie them down well for the drive along Highway 101.
Quick checklist
- New mattress on order? Ask about take-back first.
- Clean and undamaged? Try donation or a local giveaway.
- Otherwise: the Regional Transfer Station, not Blue Mountain.
- Bed bugs? Wrap, seal, label and dispose of it directly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a mattress in the garbage in Port Angeles?
Not in a curbside cart. You can self-haul it to the Regional Transfer Station, where it is charged by weight, or hire a hauler.
Does Blue Mountain Transfer Station take mattresses?
It does not accept furniture larger than 4 by 4 feet, which excludes most mattresses. Use the Regional Transfer Station in Port Angeles.
Is there free mattress recycling in Washington?
Not statewide at the time of writing. Bills to create a mattress stewardship program have been introduced, but no program is operating.
Will charities take a used mattress?
Some will if it is clean and undamaged, but many do not accept used mattresses. Call ahead.