About mattress recycling fee
California State Law requires retailers to collect a per-piece Mattress Recycling Fee on every mattress, box spring, foundation, and adjustable-base component sold. The fee funds the statewide recycling program administered by the Mattress Recycling Council — a nonprofit that operates over 200 drop-off and pickup locations across the state. The fee is set by the state and itemized as a separate line at checkout.
Why the fee exists
Before California's mattress recycling law (effective December 30, 2015), the only legal way to dispose of a worn-out mattress in California was to either pay a private hauler or take it to a landfill. The new program funds free statewide mattress recycling — every Californian can drop off used mattresses at a designated MRC location at no additional cost when they're ready to discard one.
Without the fee:
- Mattresses pile up in landfills (a single innerspring takes ~75 years to break down)
- Illegal dumping increases — abandoned mattresses are a chronic LA problem
- Recyclable steel, foam, fabric, and wood (about 75% of a typical mattress) ends up as landfill volume rather than reentering the supply chain
The fee is part of the same statewide framework that funds bottle deposits, e-waste recycling, and used tire processing — it shifts the disposal cost to the point of sale so the recycling infrastructure can run continuously.
What the fee covers
The fee is charged per piece — each mattress, box spring, foundation, and adjustable-base component carries its own fee. The exact per-piece amount is set by California's Mattress Recycling Council and is itemized at checkout; check the live total before placing your order. A typical complete bed setup (mattress + foundation) carries 2 fees; a split California King setup (1 mattress + 2 foundation halves) carries 3.
| Item | Fee applied? |
|---|---|
| Mattress (any size) | Yes — once per mattress |
| Box spring or foundation | Yes — once per piece |
| Split foundation (2 halves) | Yes — once per half (2 total) |
| Adjustable bed base | Yes — once per base |
| Mattress topper | No |
| Pillows, sheets, protectors | No |
| Bed frames (metal/wood, non-foundation) | No |
What happens to the recycled mattress?
Mattresses dropped off through the state program or hauled away with new-mattress delivery are routed to MRC-approved processing facilities. Each mattress is dismantled and the material categories are separated:
- Steel (from coils and innerspring frames) — about 25% of a typical mattress by weight. Melted down and reused for new steel products.
- Foam (polyurethane, memory foam, latex) — about 20% by weight. Reused as carpet underlay, padding, or in some cases reprocessed into new foam.
- Fabric & fiber (cover, padding, batting) — about 15% by weight. Reused as industrial wipes, insulation, or other woven products.
- Wood (from foundations and box springs) — about 15% by weight. Chipped into mulch or recycled into composite lumber.
About 75% of every recycled mattress goes back into the supply chain. The remaining 25% (mixed fiber, binders, etc.) goes to waste-to-energy facilities rather than landfills.
How LA Mattress handles your old mattress
Every white-glove delivery includes free pickup and recycling of your old mattress — regardless of where you bought it. You don't need to schedule the pickup separately, bag the mattress, or move it to the curb. Our two-person delivery team handles it:
- We arrive with your new mattress and the materials to wrap your old one.
- The new mattress goes into the bedroom; the old mattress comes out (wrapped, lifted, loaded onto our truck).
- The old mattress is routed through California's MRC recycling program — same facilities that the state-mandated fee funds.
- You sleep on the new mattress that night.
If you're recycling a mattress you didn't buy from us, free drop-off locations are listed on the MRC California page. The closest drop-off to most LA addresses is within a 15-minute drive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the California mattress recycling fee?
California State Law (AB 818, effective December 30, 2015) requires retailers to collect a per-piece recycling fee on every mattress, box spring, foundation, and adjustable base sold. The fee funds the state's mattress recycling program.
How much is the recycling fee per piece?
The fee is per piece — mattress, box spring, foundation, and adjustable-base components each carry the fee. The exact amount is set by California's Mattress Recycling Council and is itemized at checkout. Check the live total before placing your order; it's a separate line from the mattress price.
Why do I have to pay the fee if I'm not recycling my old mattress?
State law requires retailers to collect the fee on every new mattress sold, regardless of what you do with your old one. The fee funds the statewide recycling infrastructure (drop-off centers, transport, processing facilities) that every California resident can use at no additional cost when they're ready to recycle.
Does LA Mattress Store take my old mattress for recycling?
Yes — every white-glove delivery includes free pickup and recycling of your old mattress, regardless of where you bought it. We wrap it, load it, and route it through the state's recycling program. No need to pre-arrange or pay extra.
What if I recycle the old mattress myself?
You still pay the state-mandated recycling fee at purchase (it's collected on the sale, not on the disposal). You may receive a modest incentive from the Mattress Recycling Council if you drop off your used mattress at a designated state-approved location — check their California page for drop-off rules.
I didn't pay this fee on my old mattress — can I still recycle it for free?
Yes. The California recycling program accepts mattresses from any era, regardless of when (or if) the recycling fee was paid. The fee funds the program prospectively; it isn't tied to individual mattress history.
What if my mattress has bedbugs, mold, or other contamination?
Contaminated mattresses posing a health or safety hazard are not eligible for recycling through the program — they're treated as biohazard waste, which requires separate processing. Talk to LA Sanitation's bulk-item pickup or call the MRC directly if you have a contaminated mattress to dispose of.
What happens to the recycled mattress?
The mattresses are dismantled and the steel, foam, fabric, and wood are separated and reused to make new products. About 75% of a typical mattress is recyclable. Learn more at mattressrecyclingcouncil.org/mrc-in-your-state/california.
Have more questions?
Call us at (800) 218-3578, email orders.lamattress@gmail.com, or visit any of our 5 LA showrooms. For program-specific questions, the Mattress Recycling Council's California page has the canonical statewide info.