Recycle Your Old Mattress

Looking to dispose of an old mattress? Baltimore City residents can now recycle clean and dry mattresses and box springs at the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Quarantine Road Landfill Residential Recycling Center. 

This initiative is made possible through a partnership between DPW and Turbo Haul, a Baltimore-based mattress recycling vendor. Their system ensures that over 90% of mattress and box spring materials are repurposed, contributing to a circular recycling economy.

Where to Recycle Your Mattress

Baltimore City residents can drop off clean and dry mattresses and box springs:

6100 Quarantine Road
Monday – Saturday
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Several worn-out mattresses, some with floral prints, stacked on top of each other at an outdoor recycling or disposal center. In the background, pallets and other discarded materials can be seen.

Why is Mattress Recycling Important?

Improper mattress disposal has a major environmental impact, contributing to landfill waste and carbon emissions. Here’s why recycling matters:

  • Saves Landfill Space: Mattresses are bulky and difficult to compact. Each mattress takes up about 23 cubic feet of landfill space and weighs an average of 65 pounds.
  • Reduces Waste & Pollution: Instead of adding to landfill overflow, recycling repurposes valuable materials.
  • Lowers Carbon Emissions: Keeping mattresses out of landfills reduces harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.
Several worn-out mattresses, some with floral prints, stacked on top of each other at an outdoor recycling or disposal center. In the background, pallets and other discarded materials can be seen.

How Are Mattresses Recycled?

Turbo Haul handles mattress hauling, processing, and recycling. Their process includes:

  1. Layer Separation: Mattresses are cut open and materials are divided.
  2. Material Repurposing:
    • Foam padding → Used in carpet underlayment.
    • Fabric and fibers → Repurposed for furniture, soundproofing, and industrial oil filters.
    • Metal springs and frames → Melted down and used for new appliances and building materials.
    • Wooden box spring frames → Shredded into mulch, livestock bedding, or alternative fuel sources.

By recycling, these materials get a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.

More on Recycling Your Mattress

Important Notes:

On-site staff at Quarantine Road will direct you to the correct drop-off area.

Residents must unload their own mattresses and box springs into the designated collection unit.

Items That Cannot Be Recycled:

These items should be disposed of separately at the Quarantine Road Drop-Off Center:

Sheets, pillowcases

Blankets, quilts, comforters

Curtains, drapes

Aprons, dishcloths, cloth napkins

Table linens

A close-up of a used mattress with a blue and white pattern, placed on a plastic-covered surface at a recycling site. Blurred figures in the background suggest activity at the disposal or recycling area.

Stay Updated

As DPW expands mattress recycling locations, residents can track new sites or ask questions by contacting recycling@baltimorecity.gov.

By choosing to recycle, you’re helping Baltimore reduce waste and protect the environment—one mattress at a time!