The short answer
A flat pickup costs $82 for a twin, $94 for a full, $103 for a queen, $114 for a king and $143 for a mattress and box spring set, carried out from any floor. The City of Detroit's weekly bulk pickup costs nothing but only takes what is at the curb by 7 a.m., within 2 cubic yards a week. Driving it to SOCRRA's Troy transfer station starts at a $50 minimum. We recycle whatever we can from every load.
What is actually recyclable in a mattress
A mattress is not one material. It is several, and that is why recycling it takes work.
- Steel springs in innersprings and box springs. Steel is the easiest part to recover.
- Foam from memory-foam and hybrid mattresses, and the comfort layers of most others.
- Wood in box spring frames.
- Fabric and fiber in the cover and padding.
Somebody has to cut it open and separate those layers. A mattress that is soaked, moldy or infested is far less likely to be recyclable, which is one more reason not to leave one out in the rain on a Detroit curb for two days.
Route 1: the city's bulk pickup (free)
Detroit residents get weekly bulk pickup, in place since June 3, 2024. The limits: 2 cubic yards a week, out by 7 a.m., off the curb by 9 p.m. if missed, and never placed in front of a vacant lot. Check the city's bulk page to confirm mattresses are accepted on your route.
Cost: $0 plus your labor. Where the mattress goes after that is the city's contractor's decision, not yours. If recycling specifically matters to you, the curb route does not let you choose.
Size is the catch. A queen mattress and box spring together come close to the whole 2-cubic-yard weekly allowance, so a bedroom set and a sofa in the same week will usually be over.
Route 2: drive it to Troy
SOCRRA's transfer station at 991 Coolidge in Troy charges $75 per ton with a $50 minimum (effective July 1, 2025). It is hand-unload only, weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
One mattress weighs far less than a ton, so you would pay the $50 minimum. Add a borrowed pickup or a rented van, fuel from wherever you live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb, and a weekday morning or an early Saturday. Ask at the gate what happens to mattresses there before assuming they are recycled.
Dearborn residents have a better deal: a free DPW drop-off at 2951 Greenfield on the third Saturday of each month, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Route 3: flat-price pickup
| 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 |
The price includes carrying it out from the bedroom, the attic or the basement, loading, hauling and disposal. We recycle whatever we can and try to donate usable items when local charities accept them. Orders under $100 are billed at the $100 minimum, so a single twin is $100.
Doing the honest math
Take a queen set in an upstairs bedroom of a Royal Oak bungalow.
- Curb route: $0, but two trips down a narrow staircase, out by 7 a.m., and check Royal Oak's own bulk rules first.
- Troy route: $50 minimum, a vehicle that fits a queen, fuel, and a morning before 10 a.m. on a weekday or 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- Pickup: $143 for the set, carried out.
Two mattress and box spring sets, one from the guest room and one from a kids' room: $143 + $143 = $286. For most people the decision comes down to stairs and time, not the price of the gate.
Common mattress jobs around the metro
- Wayne State move-out in Midtown: a full mattress and a futon from a walk-up: $94 + $111 = $205.
- Bunk room in a Macomb Township or Canton house: two twin mattresses and the bunk bed frame: $82 + $82 + $123 = $287.
- Primary bedroom upgrade in Troy or Novi: a king mattress and the old adjustable base: $114 + $118 = $232.
- Flooded basement guest room in Jefferson-Chalmers or Downriver: a soaked queen set and the wet carpet: $143 + $71 = $214.
When recycling is not possible
Some mattresses cannot be recycled at all. The usual reasons:
- Water damage. A basement guest mattress that sat through a summer storm flood is usually done.
- Bed bugs. Seal it in a mattress bag in the room, tell whoever is collecting it, and do not leave it out for someone to pick up.
- Heavy soiling or mold.
These still go, at the same price. A queen is $103 dry or wet.
Booking
Get a price from a photo or pick the items online, then choose a 2-hour arrival window. We run 7 days a week, 8am to midnight, and same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM. For the curb rules in detail, read mattress disposal laws in Detroit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to recycle a mattress in Detroit?
Pickup is a flat $82 twin, $94 full, $103 queen, $114 king or $143 for a set, carried out from any floor. Orders under $100 are billed at the $100 minimum. We recycle whatever we can from each load.
Is there a free way to get rid of a mattress in Detroit?
Detroit residents can use weekly bulk pickup within the 2-cubic-yard limit, set out by 7 a.m. Dearborn residents have a free DPW drop-off on the third Saturday of each month.
What does the Troy transfer station charge?
SOCRRA's transfer station charges $75 per ton with a $50 minimum, effective July 1, 2025. It is hand-unload only, with weekday and Saturday morning hours.
Can a wet mattress be recycled?
Usually not. Water-damaged, moldy or infested mattresses are generally not recyclable, but they can still be removed at the same flat price.
Is a box spring priced separately?
A box spring alone is $92. A mattress and box spring together are $143 as a set.
Can you take a mattress down from an attic bedroom?
Yes. Crews carry items out from any floor, attic and basement included, with no stairs fee.