How to Dispose of a Mattress in Ottawa

An old mattress is one of the most awkward things to get rid of in Ottawa. It's big, floppy, impossible to fit in a car, and — unlike a bag of trash — the City won't just take it from the curb. Whether you're upgrading your bed, clearing a guest room, or handling a whole-house cleanout, this guide covers every way to dispose of a mattress in Ottawa, what each one costs, and the fastest route to an empty bedroom.

The Short Answer

Recycle it at an Ottawa mattress recycling facility if you can transport it yourself.
Put it in a bin if you're already renting one for a cleanout or renovation (mattresses carry a $50/unit special waste fee).
Book a junk removal pickup if you want it carried out and gone without lifting it yourself.
Take the retailer's haul-away if you're buying a new mattress on delivery.
Donate it only if it's genuinely clean and in good condition — most charities can't accept used mattresses.

Why You Can't Just Put It at the Curb

The City of Ottawa's curbside program doesn't collect mattresses with regular garbage. Even where bulky-item collection exists, mattresses often need special arrangements, tags, or scheduled pickups — and leaving one out without following the rules can bring a bylaw complaint. On top of that, a mattress left in the rain becomes waterlogged, doubles in weight, and turns into an even bigger problem. The curb is not a mattress solution.

Can Mattresses Be Recycled?

Yes — and it's the most environmentally responsible option. A mattress is up to 90% recyclable. Broken down, it yields:

Steel springs — melted down as scrap metal.
Foam — repurposed into carpet underlay.
Wood frame — chipped for mulch or biomass.
Cotton and fabric — recovered as fibre.

Ottawa has mattress recycling facilities that will take mattresses for a per-item fee. The catch is transport — you need a truck or trailer to get it there, and a mattress strapped to a car roof is both unsafe and, if it comes loose on the highway, a serious hazard. If you don't have a way to haul it, one of the options below brings the recycling to you.

Option 1: Put It in a Bin Rental

If you're already renting a bin for a bedroom cleanout, a move, or a renovation, a mattress can go straight in. Base Bins accepts mattresses with a $50/unit special waste fee (they require separate handling at the transfer station, which is why there's a per-item charge). Bins start at $240 for a 1-day rental or $260 for 3 days — see the full pricing page.

This is the most cost-effective route when the mattress is part of a bigger clear-out — a guest room, a basement cleanout, or a move — because you're paying for the bin anyway. For a single mattress on its own, a bin is usually more than you need.

Option 2: Book a Junk Removal Pickup

If it's just the mattress (and maybe a box spring and bed frame), our residential junk removal service is the easy button. A two-person crew comes to your home, carries the mattress out — down stairs, through tight hallways, out of an apartment — loads it, and takes it to be recycled or disposed of properly. No lifting, no truck, no straps on the car roof. Junk removal is priced by the space your items take in the truck, and we give a firm quote before starting.

This is the right call for most people getting rid of a single mattress or a bedroom set, especially if it's on an upper floor or you don't have a vehicle to move it.

Option 3: Retailer Haul-Away With a New Mattress

If you're buying a new mattress, ask about old-mattress removal on delivery. Many Ottawa mattress retailers and big-box stores will take the old one away when they drop off the new one, sometimes free and sometimes for a small fee. It's convenient — but only works if you're buying new and only takes the one mattress, so it won't help with a guest bed or a second mattress you also want gone.

Option 4: Donation (Only If It's Genuinely Good)

A clean, gently used mattress in good structural condition can sometimes be donated — but be realistic. Most Ottawa charities and shelters cannot accept used mattresses for health and liability reasons, and none will take a mattress with:

Stains of any kind
Sagging, broken springs, or structural damage
Any sign of bed bugs
Odours or moisture damage

If your mattress is genuinely clean and in good shape, call ahead before assuming a charity will take it — don't just drop it off, and never leave it outside a donation centre after hours, where it becomes their disposal problem. When in doubt, recycling is the more honest choice than donating a mattress that will just be thrown out anyway.

A Word on Bed Bugs

If you're disposing of a mattress because of bed bugs, handle it carefully so you don't spread them. Wrap the mattress completely in a plastic mattress disposal bag (available at hardware stores) and seal it before moving it through the house. Label it clearly so no one is tempted to pick it up from the curb. Let us know when booking — our crew will take the right precautions, and it ensures the mattress is routed to disposal rather than recycling.

How Many Mattresses, What Sizes?

Mattress disposal scales easily whether you've got one or a dozen:

A single mattress or bedroom set — junk removal pickup is quickest.
Several mattresses (landlord turnover, dorm clear-out, family downsizing) — a bin or a larger junk removal load. Each mattress carries the $50/unit fee in a bin.
King, queen, double, twin — size doesn't change the approach, though a king with a box spring and frame is a genuine two-person carry.

Don't Forget the Box Spring and Frame

Getting rid of a mattress usually means getting rid of the whole sleep setup. Box springs are handled the same way as mattresses (and carry the same per-unit fee in a bin). Metal bed frames are recyclable as scrap. Wooden frames and headboards can go in a bin, be picked up by junk removal, or — if in good shape — be donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Our crew takes the whole set in one visit.

How Base Bins Helps

Junk removal pickup — we carry the mattress out and haul it away, same-day or next-day.
Bin rental — add a mattress to a cleanout or renovation bin ($50/unit special waste fee).
Whole sleep set — mattress, box spring, and frame in one trip.
Proper routing — mattresses sent to recycling where possible.
Service across the region — Ottawa, Nepean, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Stittsville, and Barrhaven.
Fully insured — $2M liability, WSIB compliant.

Bottom Line

A mattress can't go to the curb, but it has plenty of proper homes: recycling if you can haul it, a bin if you're already clearing a room, junk removal if you want it simply gone, or the retailer's truck if you're buying new. Whatever you choose, don't let it sit in the rain getting heavier.

Call (613) 518-1508 or request a free quote. Tell us how many mattresses and whether they're on an upper floor — we'll give you a firm price and can often pick up the same day.

Disclaimer: All prices mentioned in this article are provided for general reference and informational purposes only. These prices are not fixed and may vary depending on facts, market conditions, location, time, availability, or other relevant factors. Actual prices may change without prior notice.

HOW TO DISPOSE OF A MATTRESS IN OTTAWA