The short answer
Recycling the mattress itself is close to free in the Inland Empire: Riverside County landfills accept separated mattresses at no charge, and California's Bye Bye Mattress drop-off sites take them free from households. What you pay for is getting it there. If you do not own a pickup, or the mattress is upstairs, a flat pickup is $103 for a queen, $114 for a king and $143 for a mattress and box spring set.
Why it is free at the gate
Two systems keep the disposal side cheap here.
The state fee you already paid. California collects a mattress recycling fee at retail when a mattress or box spring is sold. That fee funds participating drop-off sites where households can leave mattresses at no cost.
Riverside County's separated-mattress lane. Under the county fee ordinance in force from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, Badlands (Moreno Valley) and Lamb Canyon (Beaumont) accept up to 5 mattresses a day free, and El Sobrante (Corona) up to 2 a day free, when they are hauled separately.
For comparison, a routine load of mixed trash at a county landfill is $52.68 a ton with a $43.20 minimum load. A mattress mixed into that load stops being free.
The self-haul cost, line by line
Say you live in Arlington Heights and want to take a queen and its box spring to Badlands yourself.
- Gate fee: $0, if the mattress and box spring arrive as their own separated items.
- Vehicle: a pickup or van. A queen does not fit in a sedan or a small SUV, and box springs have a rigid frame.
- Tarp and straps: required in practice. The county adds a $25 surcharge to uncovered loads.
- Time: the drive out Ironwood Avenue, the scale line, and back. Badlands is open Monday to Saturday 6:00 to 4:30 and closed Sunday, so for most commuters this is a Saturday-morning job.
- Labor: two people to carry it out of the house and lift it into the bed.
If you already own a truck and have a free Saturday, this is the cheapest route in the network. If you would be borrowing or renting a truck, the math changes fast.
The pickup cost, line by line
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Mattress — Twin | $82 |
| Mattress — Full / Double | $94 |
| Mattress — Queen | $103 |
| Mattress — King / Cal King | $114 |
| Box Spring (any size) | $92 |
| Mattress + Box Spring Set | $143 |
| Adjustable Bed Base (Motorized) | $118 |
That price includes the carry-out from any floor, loading and disposal. There is no stairs fee and no same-day surcharge. The order minimum is $100, so a twin or full on its own is billed at $100; a twin and its box spring, $82 + $92 = $174, clears it, though booking them as a set at $143 is cheaper.
Two common combinations: a king set plus a motorized base is $143 + $118 = $261. Two queen mattresses from a guest room and a primary bedroom are $103 + $103 = $206.
Where recycling actually happens
Mattresses are bulky but surprisingly recyclable: steel springs, foam, fiber and wood frames can all be separated. That is why both the state program and the county treat them differently from ordinary trash.
When we haul a mattress, we recycle whatever we can. Usable furniture is a different story; we try to donate usable items when local charities accept them, but used mattresses are rarely accepted for donation.
When paying is the cheaper choice
- You would have to rent a truck. Rental, fuel and mileage for one mattress typically outrun a $103 pickup.
- It is upstairs. Two-story tract homes in Orangecrest, Corona and Eastvale have tight stair turns, and a king set is a two-person carry.
- You have used your City appointments. The City of Riverside allows two bulky appointments a year. The third one does not exist.
- It is summer. Loading a mattress in an Inland Empire driveway on a July afternoon is a bad idea for anyone.
- It is a move-out. At UCR in mid-June, waiting for a free slot is not an option when the lease ends Friday.
How to keep the cost down either way
Bundle. If a mattress is going, something else usually is too: a bed frame, a nightstand, a box of clothes. Each item has its own flat price, so you only pay for what goes, and adding items helps you clear the $100 minimum without paying for empty space. A queen set plus a standard frame is $143 + $68 = $211.
Get the price first. Upload a photo or pick the items on the instant quote page, and you see the total before you commit. If you would rather do the Badlands run yourself, at least you know exactly what you are saving.
Frequently asked questions
Is mattress recycling free in Riverside?
The disposal can be. Riverside County landfills take separated mattresses free (5 a day at Badlands and Lamb Canyon, 2 a day at El Sobrante), and Bye Bye Mattress drop-off sites take household mattresses at no cost. You still need to transport it.
Why did I pay a fee when I bought my mattress?
California collects a mattress recycling fee at retail. It funds the state program's no-cost drop-off sites for households.
What does mattress pickup cost in Riverside?
With JunkRabbit: queen $103, king $114, full $94, twin $82, box spring $92 and a set $143. The minimum order is $100. Carry-out from any floor is included.
Does the landfill charge if my mattress is in a load of other junk?
Yes. The free lane is for mattresses hauled separately. Mixed in with other refuse, it is charged with the load, and El Sobrante applies the hard-to-handle rate to commingled mattresses.
Do you donate mattresses?
Used mattresses are rarely accepted by charities. We recycle whatever we can, and the steel, foam and fiber in a mattress are all recyclable materials.