You have decided to get a new mattress. Great news. The less great news: you still have the old one sitting in your bedroom, and it weighs somewhere between 60 and 100 pounds. You cannot put it in the recycling bin. You cannot leave it on the curb without knowing the rules. And if you try to carry it down three flights of stairs in a Toronto walk-up alone, something will go wrong.
This guide covers every legitimate option for getting rid of an old mattress in Toronto — from the free city pickup program to donation, private removal, recycling, and the simplest option of all: having your new mattress delivered and the old one taken away in the same trip.
Worth knowing before you start: Leaving a mattress on the sidewalk outside of your scheduled pickup day is illegal dumping under the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 841, and can result in a fine of up to $500. Do not do it. The proper options below are all straightforward and most of them are either free or close to it.
- Have it removed when your new mattress is delivered (easiest option by far)
- City of Toronto curbside collection (free, no scheduling required)
- Drop it off at a City Transfer Station (free, requires a vehicle)
- Donate it (free pickup if it qualifies)
- Sell or give it away online (someone will take a good mattress)
- Private junk removal (fast and convenient, $80 to $250+)
- Mattress recycling (the most environmentally responsible route)
This is the option most people do not know about, and it is by far the most straightforward. When you buy a new mattress from a retailer that offers in-home delivery, ask whether they will remove the old one as part of the same trip. Many do — and the good ones will not just swap the mattresses and leave you to deal with the rest.
At Dozy, this can usually be done for free. Our delivery team does the full job. We bring in your new mattress, set it up, and remove the old one — which includes carrying it out of your bedroom, down whatever stairs or hallways are in the way, and getting it to the curb or your building's designated disposal area. You do not lift a thing. For anyone in a condo, a walk-up, or any space where moving a mattress is genuinely awkward, this is the detail that makes the difference.
If you need the mattress taken off the property, removal is available for $50 + HST (Single, Double, or Queen) and $100 + HST (King) when booked alongside your new Dozy delivery. Pre-approval is required for cleanliness before we can load on our truck, so call us at (416) 840-0224 to confirm availability and book. Dozy also works with local disposal partners who follow environmental best practices, so your old mattress is handled responsibly.
The City of Toronto collects mattresses as part of its regular garbage pickup. You do not need to call ahead, book a special appointment, or buy a sticker. Simply put the mattress out on your regular garbage day and the crew will take it.
If you live in a house or ground-level unit, this is the most convenient free option. Place the mattress at the curb on your collection day — not the night before, and not outside your scheduled day. Condo and apartment residents will typically need to coordinate with building management first, as most buildings require you to bring the mattress to a designated disposal area and may have specific elevator booking requirements for oversized items.
If you have access to a truck or a large vehicle and want to get this done immediately rather than waiting for garbage day, the City of Toronto operates several Transfer Stations that accept mattresses at no charge for residents. You will need to show proof of Toronto residency. The main locations include Disco Road (Etobicoke), Ingram Drive (North York), and Leslie Street (East York).
The tradeoff is getting the mattress into a vehicle, which is the same logistical challenge as any other option — just one you are solving yourself. If you have a truck or can borrow one, this is fast and free.
If your mattress is still in good condition, donating it gives it a second life and keeps it out of the landfill. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStores, The Furniture Bank, and some local shelters accept clean, gently used mattresses. The typical requirements are: no stains, no odour, no visible sagging or damage, no bed bug history, and generally less than seven years old.
Some charities offer free pickup for donated items, which makes this one of the better options if your mattress qualifies. The Furniture Bank in particular serves Toronto residents in need and has a scheduled pickup program. Call ahead to confirm they are currently accepting mattresses and to check condition requirements, as these vary.
This one is worth trying, but be realistic about it. The used mattress market in Toronto is limited. Unlike furniture or electronics, a second-hand mattress is a harder sell — most buyers are understandably cautious about hygiene, condition, and history. That said, a genuinely clean mattress in good shape that is being offered for free or at a low price will occasionally find a taker, particularly among students or people furnishing a temporary space.
Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji are your best options. Be upfront and specific about the condition — no stains, no odours, no bed bug history, approximate age, and clear photos. Do not expect a quick result, and have a backup plan ready. If it has not moved in a week, move on to one of the other options on this list.
If you want this done today with zero effort on your end, a private junk removal company is the answer. Services like 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Junk It, and 1-800-RID-OF-IT all operate in Toronto and will come to your unit, carry the mattress out, load it, and haul it away. You do not have to get it to the curb or into a vehicle.
Pricing varies based on volume and access. A single mattress typically runs $80 to $150 through most services. Same-day or next-day availability is usually possible. If you have multiple large items to get rid of at the same time, the per-item cost often comes down. It is the most expensive option on this list, but it is also the most hands-off — particularly useful for condos where getting a mattress to the curb is a production in itself.
Most of what is in a mattress can be recycled. The steel springs can be melted down and reused. The foam can be processed into carpet underlay or industrial padding. The fabric cover can be repurposed. When a mattress goes to landfill, all of that sits compressed underground for decades. Mattress recycling keeps the materials in use and keeps significant bulk out of the waste stream.
Ontario's mattress recycling infrastructure is still developing, but options do exist. Some private junk removal companies partner with recycling processors and will confirm they are recycling rather than landfilling — ask explicitly when you book. Some Toronto transfer stations route mattresses to recycling rather than general waste. If this matters to you, it is worth asking the question before you hand anything over.
The Toronto Condo Problem
Most mattress disposal guides are written for people in houses. If you live in a Toronto condo — which a lot of us do — the challenge is a bit different.
Getting a mattress out of a condo involves a booking with building management for the service elevator, a window of time that usually does not coincide with garbage day, a journey down a hallway that is too narrow for a king, and a lobby security desk that wants to know exactly what you are doing. It is not impossible, but it is more complicated than just "put it on the curb."
The cleanest solution for condo residents is option one: having the old mattress removed when your new one is delivered. The delivery team is already there, they know how to move large items through tight spaces, and they handle the logistics of getting both the new mattress in and the old one out without you having to coordinate separately. It is worth the removal fee for most people in this situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for a new mattress? Browse the full Dozy lineup — all made to order right here in Toronto. We offer free delivery across Toronto and the GTA, and we can take your old mattress away at the same time. Call us at (416) 840-0224 or visit us at 290 Queen St W, open from 11am.
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