San Diego Mattress Disposal: No Curbside Pickup

Item: Mattress and box spring (foundation) — detachable futon mattresses are also accepted at the City site Jurisdiction: City of San Diego, California — Environmental Services Department (ESD) service area only Official sources: City of San Diego Environmental Services Department (Mattress Recycling, Collection Services, General Refuse Rules, Miramar Landfill, Trash Service Updates), CalRecycle, Mattress Recycling Council (Bye Bye Mattress) Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Quick answer

The City of San Diego does not pick up mattresses from the curb. Its mattress page states that "the City of San Diego does not provide bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up services," and a mattress can never go in a City trash, recycling or organic waste bin.

Your routes are a free self-haul to the Mattress Collection Site at 5161 Convoy St. — brought bare, never wrapped — or the free take-back a retailer owes you when it delivers a new mattress. A bulky-item pickup program was planned, but after the June 2026 fee action it is paused until further notice, and regular trash, recycling and organics collection continues.

Quick facts

Why no one is coming to your curb for a mattress

"The City will schedule a bulky pickup." It will not. The June 8, 2026 press release on reduced trash fees says the reductions "eliminate funding for several planned service enhancements, including weekly recycling collection and bulky item pickup," and the Trash Service Updates pages call both upgrades paused until further notice while regular collection continues. An April 2026 City article mentions a bulky program "including mattresses" starting July 1, 2027 at no added cost; that plan was de-funded afterwards, so the date is not a service.

Because nothing is running, no City limit exists on item count, frequency, size, weight or appointment windows. Limits quoted elsewhere belong to other cities or private haulers.

"It can go out with the trash." It cannot. Mattresses and box springs are barred from every City container, and collection runs on City-issued automated carts only.

"It has to be wrapped or bagged." The opposite is true here.

Third-party pages that describe a schedulable San Diego mattress pickup, a free annual bulky pickup, or a per-item curbside fee are contradicting the City's own documents.

First, check that you are in the City of San Diego service area

ESD serves roughly 225,000 residential customers: single-family homes and multi-family properties with up to four residences on a lot, with trash weekly, organics weekly and recycling every other week.

Not City-serviced: buildings with five or more residences on a lot, mixed-use and commercial properties, and properties on private streets or in gated communities. Those must subscribe to a City-approved private Franchise Hauler. The City does not choose those haulers, does not set their rates, and offers no on-demand bulky pickup for them.

San Diego is also a patchwork of jurisdictions. Unincorporated San Diego County and other cities — Chula Vista, Carlsbad, La Mesa, Escondido, El Cajon, Encinitas, Oceanside and others — run their own programs, haulers, limits and fees. Do not apply City rules to a County or other-city address, or the reverse. County residents should use their own hauler or the County recycling hotline, listed as 1-877-R-1-EARTH; confirm that number first.

The free route: the City's Mattress Collection Site at 5161 Convoy St.

This is the primary route for most City households, and it is free.

• Address: 5161 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111 — east side of the Miramar Landfill entrance, next to the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility.
• Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and six holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
• Cost: free for accepted units, no drop-off limit, no appointment.
• Accepted: mattresses, box springs (foundations) and detachable futon mattresses, used and discarded in California.

Convoy Street holds three unrelated sites: the Mattress Collection Site (5161), the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility (5161, appointment-only, City-resident-only, no mattresses) and the Miramar Landfill (5180, paid mixed loads). A mattress belongs at 5161 only.

Hours have drifted between City documents: older releases list 7 a.m.–4 p.m. and, in 2024, up to 10 units per trip. The current page — 7 a.m.–3 p.m., no drop-off limit — governs. Confirm before you drive.

What the site takes — and what it rejects

Condition decides whether the free route exists at all.

Accepted: mattresses and box springs of standard types, plus detachable futon mattresses removed from the frame or base. Units must have been used and discarded in California and must not be severely damaged, wet, twisted, frozen, soiled or bedbug-infested.

Not accepted: damaged, wet, twisted, frozen, soiled or bedbug-infested units; mattress pads and toppers; sleeping bags and cots; pillows, cushions, blankets, sheets and loose bedding; car beds, infant carriers, lounge pads and crib bumpers; waterbeds, collapsible rollaway beds and camping air mattresses; foldout sofa beds; futon frames, futon bases and household furniture; futon mattresses that do not separate from the frame; and any unit in a cardboard box or plastic bag.

If your item is unusual, call ESD at 858-694-7000 (Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) before loading.

Do not wrap or bag it: the wrap rule, corrected

Generic guides written for curbside bulky programs tell people to wrap or bag the unit. In San Diego that causes rejections: the City publishes no wrap or bag requirement, and the official page lists a mattress or box spring "in a cardboard box or plastic bag" as unacceptable.

Bring units bare, keep them dry, strip bedding, pads and toppers, and do not tie frames or other items to the mattress. The City also notes that "landfill fees may apply if your mattress is brought in with other waste" — the free drop-off covers the mattress, not a household clean-out.

Buying a new mattress? The free retailer take-back you already paid for

California's Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act (Public Resources Code 42985–42994), overseen by CalRecycle, requires a retailer delivering a new mattress, foundation or futon to a California address to offer to take back your old unit at no additional charge.

• One-for-one — same type and quantity as delivered.
• For online or common-carrier deliveries, the retailer may have up to 30 days to arrange pickup.
• The retailer may refuse a contaminated unit or a health or safety risk, and the state fee is not refunded in that case.
• An authorized adult is usually required at pickup, and delivery or setup fees for the new product may still apply.

It is not a free haul-away on demand; it exists only with a new purchase. Retailers such as Mattress Firm publish a removal-request process pairing pickup from the same address with a new delivery, one-for-one, with unsanitary beds refused. Practice varies by retailer and store, so confirm the terms when you buy.

Other free drop-off sites: the Bye Bye Mattress network

The Mattress Recycling Council runs California's program as Bye Bye Mattress, and the City's mattress page points residents to its locator for other drop-off locations: byebyemattress.com/find-a-facility. Drop-off is free at participating sites, and MRC does not pick up from homes.

Statewide rules match the City's in principle: mattresses and foundations in a range of sizes, foam or innerspring, are accepted regardless of purchase date, and futon mattresses that separate from the frame count. Not accepted: air mattresses without upholstery, bed frames, futon frames and bases, pads and toppers, pillows, loose bedding, sofa beds, waterbeds without upholstery, and out-of-state units. Questions: 1-855-229-1691 or info@byebyemattress.com.

The paid route: self-hauling to the Miramar Landfill

Miramar Landfill, 5180 Convoy St., is the City's only active landfill: Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–4 p.m., self-dumping vehicles accepted until 4:30 p.m., closed Sundays and the same six holidays.

Under the FY2027 schedule (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027), a Tier 1 load under one ton — car, SUV, minivan, pickup, van or small trailer — of general refuse is a flat $75 per load for City-generated waste and $86 for non-City waste, including a $15 recycling fee and an $8 Refuse Collector Business Tax. The uncovered-load fee is $50, cash is not accepted, and there are no hand unloads after 4 p.m.

A standalone mattress should not go to the landfill. That fee is for mixed or general refuse; the mattress site at 5161 is free. Combine the mattress with other junk only if you were already paying for that load — and then remove CRTs, TVs, appliances, universal waste, e-waste and household hazardous materials first.

Renters, condos and buildings over four residences

The four-unit versus five-or-more line is the most important fact for renters.

In a City-serviced building — a single-family home or a property with up to four residences on a lot — the mattress is your responsibility, and the free route is self-haul to 5161 Convoy St. There is no pickup to schedule and nothing will be collected from the building.

In a building with five or more residences on a lot, a mixed-use or commercial building, or a private-street or gated community, the property is not City-serviced. Removal runs through the property's private franchise hauler, so ask the landlord, HOA or property manager before moving the mattress anywhere; the City will not collect it and hauler pricing is not published.

Because a mattress cannot go in any City bin, putting it out with normal collection is not a solution. And do not leave one at a curb, in an alley or beside a dumpster: that is illegal dumping, it can draw citations from the City, the landlord or the property manager, and it is reportable to ESD at 858-694-7000.

Moving out? The cheapest path is usually the free site at 5161; if you bought a new mattress, use the retailer's free California take-back; if the unit is unsanitary, expect both to refuse it. One unrelated note: the City's trash-fee financial assistance program is limited to homeowners at their primary residence, so tenants are not eligible.

Community Cleanup events — and why you cannot count on one

ESD has historically run Community Cleanup and Mini Bulk Cleanup events, where mattresses and junk furniture are collected curbside in a designated neighborhood, usually after an advance flyer. That is the only channel that has legally put a mattress on a San Diego curb.

The honest position today: the City's Community Cleanup program page was not reachable when this guide was last verified, so no current schedule, eligibility rule or request procedure can be confirmed, and old flyer mechanics should not be treated as current policy. Call ESD at 858-694-7000 and ask. Items set out without an authorized event are treated as illegal dumping.

Which mattress disposal route should you use?

Notes: the free site takes mattresses and box springs only and rejects units in a box or bag; the landfill fee is for a mixed load, not a standalone mattress; the $18 state fee is paid at purchase, not at any drop-off.

The $18 mattress fee is paid at purchase, not at drop-off

California's mattress recycling fee rose from $16.00 to $18.00 per unit for units sold on or after April 1, 2026. It applies per unit regardless of size or type — mattress, futon or foundation — is collected at the point of sale, must appear as a separate, non-taxable line item on your receipt, and is not refunded if a retailer later refuses an unsanitary take-back unit.

It is not a drop-off charge; using 5161 Convoy St. is free. The fee funds the recycling system that makes those free routes possible: you pay when you buy, and it comes back as free disposal. Ignore older sources quoting a smaller legacy amount.

Item prep and safety before you load

• Bring units bare — no bag, wrap or box — and check condition first: damaged, wet, twisted, frozen, soiled or bedbug-infested units are refused.
• Keep the mattress dry and stored indoors until the trip.
• Detach futon mattresses from frame or base; leave frames, bases, headboards and footboards behind.
• Strip and keep bedding, pillows, cushions, pads and toppers — none are accepted.
• Bring a helper and a hand truck for a queen or king: a mattress is awkward rather than heavy, and lifting is how this goes wrong.
• Never carry occupants in the load area, and never secure a mattress with straps that can shift in traffic.
• Never put a mattress in a City bin — crews will not take it.
• Handle bedbug-infested or heavily soiled units carefully and do not take them to the free site; confirm the correct destination before carrying one through a shared building.
• Do not burn, cut up or dump a mattress on a sidewalk, in an alley or on public land.
• For a mixed landfill load: cover it, unload before 4 p.m., remove banned items first, and bring a card or check.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Waiting for a City pickup that does not exist and is paused until further notice.
2. Putting it in a bin, at the curb or by a dumpster — that is illegal dumping.
3. Wrapping or bagging it for 5161 Convoy St., where boxed or bagged units are rejected.
4. Treating the July 2027 plan date as a live service date.
5. Taking a mattress to the HHW facility, which does not accept them.
6. Paying a $75–$86 load fee for a mattress alone instead of using the free site.
7. Assuming your building has City service without checking its hauler status.
8. Loading a wet, soiled or infested unit that will be refused.

Frequently asked questions

Can I schedule a mattress pickup with the City? No. The City states it provides no bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up, and the planned program is paused. ESD cannot book a mattress pickup.

Will the City take a mattress in my regular bin? No. Mattresses and box springs can never go in a City trash, recycling or organic waste container.

Do I need to wrap or bag it for the drop-off site? No — and you should not. A unit in a cardboard box or plastic bag is unacceptable.

What does the 5161 Convoy St. drop-off cost? Nothing for accepted units, with no published drop-off limit. The $18 fee is paid when you buy a mattress.

Can I drop off a box spring or futon mattress? Yes. A futon mattress must be detached from its frame or base; frames and bases are not accepted.

What if my mattress is wet, torn or has bedbugs? It will be refused at the City site, and a retailer may refuse it too.

I rent in a large building. What now? If the property has five or more residences on a lot, is mixed-use or commercial, or sits on a private street or in a gated community, it is not City-serviced. Ask the landlord or manager about the franchise hauler.

Can I use the site if I live outside the City? Whether the site is restricted to City residents is not published. Check your own jurisdiction first and use the Bye Bye Mattress locator.

Official verification checklist

1. Confirm your address is in the City of San Diego ESD service area — single-family, or up to four residences on a lot. Five-plus-unit, mixed-use/commercial, private-street and gated properties use a franchise hauler instead.
2. Do not rely on a City bulky or curbside pickup — nothing comes to the curb, and the July 2027 plan is paused.
3. Use the free Mattress Collection Site, 5161 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111, Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–3 p.m., closed weekends and six holidays, no drop-off limit. Bring units bare and detach futon mattresses.
4. Check condition before loading — damaged, wet, twisted, frozen, soiled or bedbug-infested units are refused.
5. Buying new? Ask for the free California one-for-one take-back at delivery.
6. If weekday hours do not work, search byebyemattress.com/find-a-facility or call 1-855-229-1691.
7. Before a landfill trip, confirm fees, hours and closures with ESD at 858-694-7000 or trash@sandiego.gov, cover the load, unload before 4 p.m., remove banned items, and bring a card or check.
8. For hazardous items, book the free HHW appointment at getitdone.sandiego.gov/HazmatNewReportPage with proof of residency — never bring a mattress there.
9. Ask ESD whether a Community Cleanup is scheduled; the program page is currently unavailable.
10. Re-check the City's mattress page and Trash Service Updates FAQ before acting, since program status changed during 2026.

What could not be confirmed: the current Community Cleanup schedule and rules, whether any bulky-pickup program has been reinstated, whether the mattress site is limited to City residents, and private hauler or junk-removal pricing. Ask ESD at 858-694-7000 rather than assuming.

Sources

1. City of San Diego — Recycling Mattresses and Box Springs (site address, hours, accepted and unacceptable items, "does not provide bulky item pickup or curbside pick-up services"): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential/mattresses
2. City of San Diego — Collection Services (ESD hub): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/collection
3. City of San Diego — General Refuse Collection Information and Rules (mattresses barred from every City container): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/collection/general
4. City of San Diego — City-Serviced Homes: https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/residential/curbside
5. City of San Diego — Trash Service Updates FAQ ("paused until further notice"; ESD contact hours): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates/faq
6. City of San Diego — Trash Service Updates: https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates
7. City of San Diego — Households Transitioning to Private Hauler Trash Service (five-plus units, mixed-use/commercial, private streets, gated communities): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/trash-service-updates/transition-to-private
8. City of San Diego — Miramar Landfill & Greenery (hours, holidays): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/miramar
9. City of San Diego — Refuse Disposal Fees (cover rule, banned items, no cash): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/miramar/fees
10. City of San Diego — FY2027 Refuse Disposal Fee Schedule (PDF): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/refuse-disposal-fees.pdf
11. City of San Diego — Household Hazardous Waste (appointment-only, City residents, no mattresses): https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/ep/hazardous
12. City of San Diego — HAZMAT drop-off appointment booking: https://getitdone.sandiego.gov/HazmatNewReportPage
13. City of San Diego — Recycling Events: https://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/events
14. City of San Diego — Reduced Trash Collection Fees press release, June 8, 2026 (PDF): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/2026-06-08-reduced-trash-collection-fees-for-city-of-san-diego-customers-effective-july-1-2027.pdf
15. City of San Diego — Mattress Collection Site notice, September 13, 2023 (hours discrepancy; current page controls): https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2023-9-13_city_of_san_diegos_mattress_collection_site.pdf
16. City of San Diego — Mattress recycling and illegal dumping (Get It Done): https://www.sandiego.gov/get-it-done/mattress-recycling
17. Inside San Diego — Mattress Recycling is Up and Illegal Dumping is Down, April 24, 2026: https://www.insidesandiego.org/mattress-recycling-and-illegal-dumping-down
18. CalRecycle — Mattress Product Management: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/mattresses
19. CalRecycle — Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act (Public Resources Code 42985–42994): https://calrecycle.ca.gov/mattresses/prc
20. CalRecycle — Mattress EPR enforcement (retailer take-back duty; separate non-taxable line item): https://calrecycle.ca.gov/epr/enforcement/mattress-epr-enforcement
21. Bye Bye Mattress — California program: https://byebyemattress.com/california/
22. Bye Bye Mattress — Retailer Pick Up FAQ (MRC does not pick up from homes; refusals): https://byebyemattress.com/california/ca-faqs/
23. Bye Bye Mattress — Accepted/Unaccepted items in California: https://byebyemattress.com/accepted-unaccepted-california/
24. Bye Bye Mattress — Find a facility: https://byebyemattress.com/find-a-facility/
25. Mattress Recycling Council — California fee increase to $18.00 per unit: https://mrcreporting.org/pages/news.aspx?newsarticleid=e61e21bf-5e00-f111-8407-6045bd6066ff
26. Mattress Firm — Mattress removal request form (retailer-side example of the state take-back): https://www.mattressfirm.com/haulawayrequestform
27. WasteFreeSD — Bulky Item Pick-up, incorporated San Diego County (no on-demand City bulky pickup): https://wastefreesd.org/centers/bulky-item-pick-up-incorporated-sd-county

Verify before you act. Hours, holiday closures, condition rules and program status change, and the City's bulky-item pickup program is officially "paused until further notice." Confirm with ESD Customer Service at 858-694-7000 (Monday–Friday, 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) or trash@sandiego.gov before you load a vehicle. This guide covers the City of San Diego ESD service area only — unincorporated San Diego County and every other city in the region run their own programs — and in buildings with five or more residences on a lot, on private streets, or in gated communities, the property owner or a private franchise hauler controls disposal logistics. Never leave a mattress at a curb, in an alley or beside a dumpster: illegal dumping is prohibited and reportable.