Mattress disposal and recycling in San Diego County
On delivery of a new mattress, California retailers must offer to take back the old one at no additional cost, within 30 days, and may refuse for health/safety risk.
Residents can drop off mattresses at no cost at participating locations; unit limits / appointments may apply.
The records list 8 mattress drop-off sites in San Diego County, in the table below.
Sources (checked September 2026): byebyemattress.com · byebyemattress.com · republicservices.com · republicservices.com · cityofsanteeca.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com · sandiego.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com
What each city's rules say
| Jurisdiction | Its rules on mattresses | Sites its rules name |
|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad | Mattresses/box springs must be wrapped in plastic. | — |
| Coronado | Coronado runs free Bulky Waste Collection weeks (e.g., week of Oct 14–18, 2024: furniture, mattresses, broken appliances; no HHW); EDCO also collects bulky items by special arrangement year-round. | — |
| Unincorporated San Diego County | Franchised haulers give single-family customers in the unincorporated area two free bulky-item pickups a year, up to three items each; bulky items include furniture, mattresses, carpet, appliances, e-waste, bundled green waste, clothing and tires. | — |
Sources (checked September 2026): carlsbadca.gov · republicservices.com · republicservices.com · coronado.ca.us · coronado.edcodisposal.com · sandiegocounty.gov
Sites in the records, by city
| City | Site | Who can use it | Hours | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulevard | Revitalization Jacumba-Boulevard/Fire Safe/Backcountry Resource Center (mattress drop-off) | By appointment: call 201-890-3344 to schedule (BBM). | 10:00AM to 6:00PM Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri. | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| Carlsbad | Republic Services – Palomar Transfer Station (mattress drop-off)5960 El Camino Real | Yes | 7:30AM to 4:00PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat. | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| Chula Vista | Republic Services – Otay Landfill (mattress drop-off)1700 Maxwell Rd. | Yes | Sources differ — confirm with Republic Services. Bye Bye Mattress locator lists 'Sun' where the weekday sequence implies Thursday. Render hours as 'see the locator' with the link. | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| El Cajon | El Cajon Transfer Station (WM) – mattress drop-off925 O'Conner St. | Free drop-off for residents only; does not accept business drop-off. | 8:00AM to 3:00PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri. 8:00AM to 11:00AM Sat | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| Ramona | Ramona Disposal (mattress drop-off)324 Maple Street | State Residents Only (BBM label). EDCO page aims program at unincorporated-County RDS residential customers. | 7:00AM to 4:30PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat. | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| San Diego | City of San Diego – Mattress Collection Site (next to HHW Collection Facility)5161 Convoy Street | State Residents Only (BBM label). | 7:00AM to 3:00PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri. | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| San Marcos | EDCO Waste & Recycling San Marcos (mattress drop-off)224 South Las Posas Rd. | Yes | 8:00AM to 4:00PM Sun | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
| Santee | Republic Services – Sycamore Landfill (mattress drop-off)8514 Mast Blvd. | Yes | 7:00AM to 4:30PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri. 7:30AM to 3:00PM Sat | Fees: Free drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) |
Sources (checked November 2026): byebyemattress.com · republicservices.com · republicservices.com · cityofsanteeca.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com · sandiego.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com
State rules
- California has a statewide Mattress Stewardship Program overseen by CalRecycle and run by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC).
- The Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act is PRC 42985–42994, established 2013.
- Residents can drop off mattresses at no cost at participating locations; unit limits / appointments may apply.
- On delivery of a new mattress, California retailers must offer to take back the old one at no additional cost, within 30 days, and may refuse for health/safety risk.
Sources (checked September 2026): calrecycle.ca.gov · calrecycle.ca.gov · byebyemattress.com · byebyemattress.com
Or have it hauled
If none of these fit — the item is heavy, the site's hours don't work, or you can't use it — JunkMD+ does the lifting and hauling, with a flat quote before we start: mattress disposal.
Sources
Sources (checked September 2026): calrecycle.ca.gov · calrecycle.ca.gov · byebyemattress.com · carlsbadca.gov · republicservices.com · republicservices.com · coronado.ca.us · coronado.edcodisposal.com · sandiegocounty.gov · byebyemattress.com · republicservices.com · republicservices.com · cityofsanteeca.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com · sandiego.gov · encinitas.edcodisposal.com
Reviews
A selection of our Google reviews — read all 1,465 on Google
Called for them to remove a bulky wooden bedframe and mattress from a small upstairs bedroom. Super easy to schedule and they came out the next day. Mike and Alberto were so helpful and were done in less than an hour! Will definitely recommend to others and will be using again for any future projects!
Easy as it could be. They were on time and took my mattress without me even realizing. Whole experience took about ten minutes. Will absolutely use this business again.
I use this company anytime I need items dumped. I would say at least 2-3 times a year depending on the project. JunkMD has taken all types of items. A mattress, demo tiles from a bathroom all the way to lawn and tree debris. When I call I get a quick response of when they can come and an approximate cost.…
FAQ
FAQ — mattress disposal and recycling
Rather not haul it yourself?
Two-hour arrival windows, Monday through Saturday. We do the lifting.
(858) 869-9448 · Mon–Sat · 2-hour arrival windows