Mattress Disposal Toronto: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Mattress (2026)

Updated September 17, 2026.

Getting rid of an old mattress in Toronto is easier than most people think, but it does require knowing which option fits your situation. Drag a mattress to the wrong location at the wrong time, and you could be looking at a $500 fine for illegal dumping under the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 841. This guide covers every legitimate disposal option available to GTA residents in 2026, from the free curbside program to paid same-day removal.

This is the Toronto companion to our broader guide to donating a mattress in Ontario.

How does Toronto's free curbside collection work?

Toronto residents can set out any size of mattress as an oversized item on their regular curbside garbage collection day at no cost. There are no stickers required, no phone calls, and no scheduling.

If you are replacing the bed at the same time, our Southern Ontario delivery page explains how we deliver to the GTA and take the old one away.

The City of Toronto coordinates with mattress processors to divert materials from landfill wherever possible. Steel coils, foam, and fabric fibre can each be recovered and repurposed. According to the Recycling Council of Ontario, a standard queen mattress contains approximately 15-25 kg of steel springs, 3-5 kg of foam, and 2-3 kg of cotton and fibre, roughly 85% recyclable by weight.

Limitations: Curbside pickup follows your regular garbage route, so you cannot request a specific day. If you miss your collection day, you wait until the next scheduled pickup, typically bi-weekly in most Toronto neighbourhoods. For residents buying a new mattress on a tight timeline (e.g., same-day or next-day delivery), this may not be the most practical option.

Our replacement cost page shows what a new bed costs before delivery, so you can plan the swap on one day.

Can you still drop a mattress at a Toronto transfer station?

The City of Toronto operated several transfer stations that previously accepted residential mattress drop-offs. As of January 1, 2026, Toronto's Drop-Off Depots no longer accept waste from residential households. The depots now only serve commercial properties, charities, institutions, and City departments.

Where can you donate a used mattress in Toronto?

Our chart of Canadian mattress sizes helps you describe the mattress accurately when you call a charity or list it online.

A mattress that is less than 7 years old, has no stains, no sagging, no odour, and no signs of bed bugs may be accepted as a donation by several GTA organizations. Donation keeps the mattress in use rather than sending it to landfill, and in some cases qualifies for a charitable tax receipt under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Furniture Bank is the largest GTA-focused furniture redistribution charity and serves individuals transitioning out of shelters, group homes, and social housing. They have strict condition requirements but accept single and double mattresses regularly. Call ahead at 416-934-1855 to confirm current availability before loading your vehicle.

When should you use private junk removal in Toronto?

If you want the mattress gone today with zero effort, private junk removal companies will come directly to your bedroom, carry the mattress out, and transport it for recycling or disposal. This is the most convenient option but comes with a cost.

Private junk removal costs are volume-based, a single mattress is one of the least expensive removal jobs these companies handle. Most companies offer a 2-hour arrival window and will text you when the crew is on the way. If you also have a box spring, frame, or bedding to remove, bundling items lowers the per-item cost significantly.

Where can you recycle a mattress in Toronto?

Recycling a mattress is the most environmentally responsible disposal method after donation. A standard queen mattress sent to landfill takes up roughly 1.4 cubic metres of space and resists decomposition for decades due to its mixed materials.

Recyc-Matelas is a national Canadian mattress recycling program operating in Ontario. They process mattresses at their Quebec facilities and have collection partnerships across the country. The program recovers:

• Steel coils, melted and repurposed for automotive parts, construction materials
• Polyurethane and memory foam, shredded for carpet underlay, gymnastic mats, industrial padding
• Cotton and fabric, processed into industrial wiping cloths and insulation
• Wood frames (in certain pillow tops and Euro tops), chipped for biomass fuel

The pocket coil mattresses we sell are the easiest type to recycle, since steel and foam separate cleanly.

Several private Toronto junk removal companies partner with Recyc-Matelas or regional foam recyclers to divert materials from landfill. When hiring a private service, ask specifically whether your mattress will be recycled or landfilled, reputable companies will tell you directly.

Can the mattress retailer haul away your old mattress?

The most convenient timing for mattress disposal is during your new mattress delivery. Many Canadian mattress retailers include haul-away as a standard or optional service, removing your old mattress when they bring in the new one, eliminating the need to handle the old mattress yourself at all.

Our Brantford mattress range is listed online with sizes and prices so GTA shoppers can compare before calling.

When comparing delivery and haul-away offerings, look for these specifics:

Every mattress we deliver is covered by our 60-Night Comfort Guarantee on delivery, which also matters if the new one does not suit you.

• Is haul-away included in the delivery fee, or is it extra? Some retailers include it free; others charge $30-$80
• Will they take the box spring too? Many only haul away the mattress itself
• What happens to the old mattress? Ask whether it goes to recycling, donation, or landfill
• Do they need the old mattress cleared of bedding? Most carriers require a bare, unbagged mattress for transport

Should you try to sell your old mattress?

If your mattress is less than 5 years old, has no stains, no sagging, and comes from a well-known brand, there is a resale market on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace in Toronto. Realistic price expectations for used mattresses in the GTA:

Our guide to judging a worn mattress helps you decide honestly whether the old bed has any resale value left.

Toronto's dense population means there is always demand for affordable bedding. Include clear photos of all four corners and the centre of the mattress. Disclose the exact age and any repairs. "Firm pickup only" listings move faster than delivery-required listings. Buyers should bring their own vehicle and protection.

How do you avoid bed bugs when disposing of a mattress in Toronto?

Toronto has one of the highest bed bug incidence rates among Canadian cities. Toronto Public Health tracked 4,400+ bed bug complaints requiring inspection in recent reporting years, concentrated in apartment-dense neighbourhoods in the east end, downtown core, and west-central Toronto.

Our bed bug mattress encasements are the product we suggest for the new bed in apartment buildings with a history.

What about the box spring?

Many newer beds do not need a box spring at all; our bed frame guide explains which platform frames replace one.

A box spring (also called a foundation) is handled differently from a mattress in most Toronto disposal programs. City curbside collection accepts box springs as oversized items using the same protocol as mattresses, place it beside your bin on collection day. Box springs contain significantly more steel per unit than mattresses, making them desirable to metal recyclers. If you have a metal recycler nearby, a steel-frame box spring may be accepted at no charge or even for a small payment per kilogram.

When donating, some organizations prefer a mattress without its box spring (due to storage space constraints), while others want the set. Confirm before transport.

When should you replace your mattress?

The Sleep Foundation and most Canadian sleep medicine researchers recommend replacing a mattress every 7-10 years for the average adult. Signs that indicate it is time for disposal rather than continued use:

Firmness needs change over a decade, and our firmness guide for replacements helps you choose deliberately.

• Visible sagging of 1.5 cm or more in the centre or where you sleep regularly
• Waking with back, neck, or shoulder pain that resolves within an hour or two of getting up
• Noise on movement, squeaking or creaking from coils indicates spring fatigue
• Allergy or asthma flares at night, older mattresses accumulate dust mites at levels that can affect sensitive individuals
• Age over 10 years, regardless of visible condition, foam and coil support degrade over time even without obvious surface wear

GTA shoppers can start with our online mattress quiz before making the drive to Brantford.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that replacing mattresses older than 9 years resulted in significant improvements in self-reported back pain and sleep quality over a 4-week period, independent of firmness changes (Jacobson et al., Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 14(3), 2015).

Toronto Mattress Disposal: Quick Reference Comparison

References

1. City of Toronto. (2025). Oversized and Metal Items, Collection Information. toronto.ca
2. City of Toronto. (2025). Drop-Off Depots, Accepted Items and 2026 Policy Changes. toronto.ca
3. Jacobson, B.H., et al. (2015). Subjective rating of perceived back pain, stiffness, and sleep quality following introduction of new bedding systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 14(3), 178-184.
4. Recycling Council of Ontario. (2024). Mattress Recycling in Ontario: Material Composition and Diversion Rates.
5. Toronto Public Health. (2023). Bed Bug Information for Residents. toronto.ca
6. Recyc-Matelas Canada. (2024). National Mattress Recycling Program. recyc-matelas.com