How to Get Rid of an Old Mattress in Indianapolis (Free & Paid Options)

Mattresses are the most awkward item Indy homeowners try to dispose of: too big for a trash can, banned from many landfills, and basically impossible to fit in a sedan. Here's every legal option in Indianapolis — ranked by cost and convenience.

Option 1: Indianapolis bulk trash pickup (cheapest)

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works offers limited bulk-item pickup for single-family residents. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic (Indy DPW provides bags at request) and scheduled at least 7 days ahead. Wait times have averaged 2–4 weeks in 2026.

• Cost: free (included in your trash service)
• Lead time: 2–4 weeks
• Limit: 4 bulk items per pickup
• Not eligible: apartments, condos, or anyone using a private hauler

Option 2: Donate it (if it's still in good shape)

Most charities won't accept stained, sagging, or torn mattresses due to bedbug and hygiene concerns. If yours is in genuinely good condition, these Indy organizations may take it:

• Wheeler Mission — Outreach office on Delaware St; call ahead
• St. Vincent de Paul of Indianapolis — verified-need furniture program
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore — accepts only frames and bed bases, not mattresses

Option 3: Mattress recycling

About 80% of a mattress is recyclable: steel springs, polyurethane foam, cotton padding, and wood frames. The closest dedicated mattress recyclers to Indianapolis are in Plainfield and Anderson, charging $25–$45 per mattress drop-off.

Option 4: Same-day haul-away

If you don't want to wrap it, schedule weeks out, or wrestle a queen up a basement stairwell, our crew pulls a single mattress from anywhere in your home for $89–$129 in Indianapolis. We recycle through the Plainfield facility wherever the mattress qualifies.

Why Indianapolis bans mattresses from landfills

Mattresses jam landfill compactors, take up enormous airspace, and contain recoverable steel and foam. South Side Landfill (the main Marion County facility) charges a $25 surcharge per mattress to discourage landfilling and incentivize recycling.

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