Mattress Recycling and Disposal Ontario | Mattress Miracle

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You have decided to buy a new mattress. Good decision. But now you have a problem: what do you do with the old one?

A queen mattress is roughly 150 cm by 200 cm and weighs 25 to 45 kilograms. It does not fit in your blue box. It does not go in the green bin. And leaving it at the curb without a plan can get you a fine. Ontario municipalities each handle mattress disposal differently, so the answer depends on where you live.

This guide covers every option available in Ontario, with specific details for Brantford and surrounding areas.

Why Mattress Disposal Matters

Canadians discard an estimated 3 to 4 million mattresses every year. Each one takes up roughly 2.3 cubic metres of landfill space, and a mattress can take decades to decompose. That is a significant waste problem when you consider that up to 85% of the materials in a typical mattress can be recycled.

Ontario does not currently have a province-wide mattress recycling programme. Mattresses are not included in the Blue Box system because they are classified as a product, not packaging. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for mattresses has not been designated under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA), which means each municipality manages disposal independently.

That leaves you with a patchwork of options depending on where you live. Let us sort through them.

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Mattress Disposal Options in Ontario

Here are the five main ways to dispose of a mattress in Ontario, ranked from most convenient to most effort.

1. Retailer Take-Back (Easiest)

The simplest option is to have your new mattress retailer remove the old one during delivery. Many mattress stores, including Mattress Miracle, offer old mattress removal as part of the delivery service. The delivery team takes the old mattress away, and you never have to think about it again.

Cost: Varies by retailer. At Mattress Miracle, removal is available with your purchase.

Effort: Minimal. The delivery team handles everything.

2. Municipal Bulky Item Pickup

Most Ontario municipalities offer some form of bulky item collection that includes mattresses. The specifics vary widely.

Important: You typically need to schedule bulky item pickup in advance. Leaving a mattress at the curb without booking may result in it not being collected and potentially receiving a by-law notice.

3. Landfill Drop-Off

Every Ontario municipality has a landfill or transfer station that accepts mattresses. Tipping fees apply and vary by location. For Brantford, the landfill is at 18 Oak Park Road in Paris (Brant County). Call 519-759-4150 for current rates and hours.

Cost: Tipping fees vary. Expect $10 to $30 per mattress depending on the facility.

Effort: You need a vehicle large enough to transport the mattress, and someone to help you load it.

4. Private Mattress Recyclers

Ontario has private mattress recycling companies that will pick up or accept drop-offs of old mattresses.

Recyc-Matelas is Canada's only dedicated mattress recycling company, operating since 2007. Their Ontario facility is in the Greater Toronto Area, and they recycle approximately 400,000 mattresses annually across Quebec and Ontario. They accept both individual and commercial drop-offs.

Matt Canada is another Canadian mattress recycling service offering pickup and drop-off options in Ontario.

Cost: Typically $20 to $50 per mattress for drop-off or pickup.

Effort: Moderate. You may need to transport the mattress to a facility or schedule a pickup.

5. Charitable Donation

A mattress in genuinely good condition may be accepted by charitable organisations. We will cover this in more detail below.

Brantford Mattress Disposal: What You Need to Know

If you live in Brantford or Brant County, here are your specific options.

What NOT to Do in Brantford

• Do not leave a mattress at the curb without scheduling pickup. It may not be collected and you could receive a by-law notice.
• Do not dump a mattress on public property, in ravines, or behind commercial buildings. Illegal dumping carries fines in Ontario.
• Do not put a mattress in your regular garbage bin. Mattresses are bulky waste and are not accepted in standard curbside collection.
• Do not burn a mattress. Mattress materials release toxic fumes when burned. Open burning of waste is prohibited in most Ontario municipalities.

How Mattress Recycling Works

When a mattress reaches a recycling facility, it goes through a systematic disassembly process. Understanding what happens can help you appreciate why recycling is worth the effort.

Step 1: Sorting and Inspection

Mattresses are sorted by type (innerspring, foam, hybrid) because each type requires a different disassembly approach. Mattresses contaminated with biological hazards (severe mould, bed bugs, bodily fluids) are typically separated for disposal rather than recycling.

Step 2: Cover Removal

The outer fabric cover is cut away and separated. Cotton and polyester fabrics are baled for textile recycling or repurposed as industrial wiping cloths and padding material.

Step 3: Foam Separation

Polyurethane foam and memory foam layers are removed and shredded. Shredded foam is most commonly recycled into carpet underpadding, gym flooring, packaging material, and insulation. Some facilities compress foam into bales for shipping to specialised recyclers.

Step 4: Steel Recovery

The steel innersprings are the most valuable component. Springs are separated using magnets and mechanical processing, then baled and sent to steel recyclers for melting. Recycled steel from mattresses becomes new steel products, from car parts to construction materials.

Step 5: Wood Processing

Box spring frames contain wooden components that are separated and chipped. Wood chips become mulch, biomass fuel, or particleboard material.

Donating Your Old Mattress

If your mattress is still in genuinely good condition, donating it keeps it out of the landfill and helps someone who needs one. But "good condition" has a specific meaning.

When Donation Is Appropriate

• No visible stains or discolouration
• No body impressions deeper than 2.5 cm (1 inch)
• No torn or ripped fabric
• No odours
• No bed bug history
• Structurally sound (no broken springs, no sagging edges)
• Less than 7 to 8 years old

Where to Donate in Ontario

Important: Always call before showing up with a mattress. Donation policies change frequently, and many organisations have become more selective due to bed bug concerns. A mattress that does not meet their standards will be refused, and you will need to find another disposal method.

Retailer Take-Back and Removal

For most people, the simplest solution is to have the new mattress retailer remove the old one. Here is how it works at different types of stores.

Mattress Miracle

When you buy a new mattress from us, our delivery team removes the old one as part of our white glove delivery service. They set up the new mattress, position it exactly where you want it, remove all packaging, and carry the old mattress out to the truck. We handle the disposal from there.

This is included with your delivery. You do not need to schedule a separate pickup, rent a truck, or recruit friends with strong backs.

Other Retailers

Most major mattress retailers in Ontario offer some form of old mattress removal, though the terms vary.

• Chain mattress stores: Usually offer removal for an additional fee ($50 to $100). Some include it with premium delivery packages.
• Big box stores: Some offer removal, some do not. Policies vary by location and purchase amount.
• Online mattress brands: Many bed-in-a-box companies do not offer removal because they ship by courier, not by delivery truck. Some partner with third-party removal services for an extra fee.

DIY Disposal Tips

If you are disposing of the mattress yourself, here are practical tips.

Transporting a Mattress

A queen mattress is roughly 150 cm by 200 cm and weighs 25 to 45 kg. You need a truck, SUV with fold-down seats, or a roof rack with proper tie-downs. Do not try to strap a mattress to the roof of a sedan. It is unsafe and can cause an accident.

If you do not have a suitable vehicle, many hardware stores and moving companies rent trucks by the hour. A short-trip rental for a landfill run is typically $30 to $50.

Wrapping and Preparation

Some municipalities require mattresses to be wrapped in plastic before curbside placement. This prevents the mattress from getting waterlogged and attracting pests. Mattress bags are available at moving supply stores for $5 to $15.

Cutting Up a Mattress

If you are mechanically inclined, you can disassemble a mattress for easier disposal or recycling. Cut the fabric cover with a utility knife, remove the foam layers (recyclable), and separate the steel springs (take to a metal recycler). Wear heavy gloves and eye protection. This takes 30 to 60 minutes for an innerspring mattress.

When to Replace Your Mattress

If you are reading this article, you are probably already thinking about replacing your mattress. Here are the signs it is time.

The Environmental Perspective

Ontario is moving toward greater waste diversion, but mattresses remain a challenge. Unlike packaging, mattresses are complex multi-material products that require manual disassembly. There is no curbside recycling programme for them, and the private recycling infrastructure is still developing.

Greater Sudbury's launch of a free municipal mattress recycling programme in April 2025 is a positive step. The programme is funded through savings from the EPR Blue Box transition, showing that creative municipal budgeting can make mattress recycling accessible. Other Ontario municipalities may follow if the programme proves successful.

In the meantime, the most environmentally responsible approach is:

1. Buy quality: A mattress that lasts 10 to 15 years generates half the waste of one replaced every 5 to 7 years. Our Restonic Revive Reflections ET at $1,395 is a flippable dual-sided mattress designed to last 12 to 15 years.
2. Use a mattress protector: A waterproof mattress protector prevents stains and allergen buildup that shorten a mattress's useful life.
3. Choose retailer removal: Retailers who collect old mattresses in volume are more likely to route them to recyclers than individual consumers managing disposal alone.
4. Support recycling: If private recyclers like Recyc-Matelas or Matt Canada serve your area, use them even if it costs a small fee.