How to Recycle or Dispose of a Mattress in Australia: A State-by-State Guide

When it's time to replace your mattress, what happens to the old one matters. Tossing it in the bin sends 25 kg of metal, foam, and fabric to landfill — much of which can be recycled or repurposed. Knowing your mattress recycling options saves you money, helps the environment, and is often easier than people assume.

Key Takeaways

• Most Australian councils offer free or low-cost bulk waste collection that includes mattresses.
• Specialised recycling facilities can recover up to 80% of mattress materials (springs, foam, fabric).
• Donation is a great option if the mattress is in good, clean condition.
• Never dump a mattress illegally — fines start around AUD $200 and reach $7,500+ in some states.

This guide walks through recycling, donation, council services, and state-by-state options so you can dispose of your old mattress responsibly.

Why Mattress Recycling Matters

Mattresses are one of the bulkiest items in landfill. Australia sends an estimated 1.8 million mattresses to landfill each year — and most of them contain materials that could be recovered.

Environmental impact of landfills. According to the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council, mattress components break down very slowly in landfill — foam can take up to 100 years to decompose, and synthetic textiles can persist for 200 years or more. 

Valuable material recovery. Mattresses contain valuable recyclable materials — steel from springs, foam that can be repurposed, and textiles that can be reclaimed.

Reducing waste responsibly. Recycling diverts these materials from landfill, reducing your environmental footprint and supporting the circular economy.

Regulatory requirements. Several Australian councils have begun restricting mattress dumping in standard kerbside collection. Some require booking or transport to specific drop-off points.

Sustainable consumption. Choosing to recycle (or donate) closes the loop on mattress ownership — what you bought new doesn't end as waste years later.

Personal responsibility. Beyond regulations, choosing the right disposal method is a small but meaningful contribution to environmental responsibility.

Mattress Recycling in Australia

Australia's mattress recycling rate is improving, but still well behind countries like the UK and the Netherlands. The good news: more councils and private operators are offering recycling services every year.

National recycling rate. Specialised facilities like Soft Landing can recover up to 75% of an individual mattress's materials. National recycling rates currently sit below 40%, with strong variation between states. 

Material components. A typical Australian queen mattress contains:

• 12–15 kg of steel (springs)

• 6–10 kg of foam (memory foam, polyurethane, latex)

• 3–6 kg of textiles (cotton, polyester, fabric)

• 1–2 kg of wood/chipboard (frame components)

Recycling potential. Steel springs are 100% recyclable and have real scrap value. Foam can be shredded for carpet underlay, sound insulation, or padded furniture filling. Textiles can be reclaimed or shredded for industrial use.

Finding local recycling programs. Start with your council's website. Search for "bulk waste," "hard waste collection," or "mattress recycling." Many councils partner with specialised recyclers and include the service free or at low cost.

Cost considerations. Council bulk waste collection is often free (1–2 collections per year per household). Private collection services typically charge $50–$100 per mattress. Recycling facility drop-offs range from free to $30 depending on location.

Recycling by State

Mattress recycling programs vary significantly by council, even within states — start with Recycling Near You for a postcode-searchable national database, or check your specific council's website for current options. Here's a general overview of what's typically available: 

New South Wales. Most metropolitan councils (City of Sydney, Inner West, Parramatta, etc.) offer bulk waste collection that accepts mattresses. Some councils partner with companies like Soft Landing, a not-for-profit recycler that processes thousands of mattresses across the state.

Victoria. Melbourne councils typically include mattresses in bulk waste collections. Several private recyclers operate across the metropolitan area, and councils often subsidise drop-off costs.

Queensland. Brisbane and Gold Coast councils run regular bulk waste pickups. Queensland's recycling network has grown significantly, with drop-off centres in major regional cities.

South Australia. Adelaide councils offer bulk waste collection, and SA has been a pioneer in mattress recycling — Soft Landing operates a major processing facility in the state.

Western Australia. Perth metropolitan councils provide bulk waste services. Recycling options are more limited in regional WA, but private operators are emerging.

Tasmania. Hobart and Launceston councils run bulk waste services. Recycling specifically (vs landfill diversion) is less common — donation may be a stronger option in Tasmania.

Australian Capital Territory. ACT residents have access to free bulk waste collection through Canberra's regional services.

Northern Territory. Darwin and Alice Springs offer council waste services, though dedicated mattress recycling is less developed than in southern states.

For specific options in your area, search "[your council name] + bulk waste" or visit Soft Landing's website (a national mattress recycling not-for-profit).

Council Pickup Services

Council bulk waste collection is the easiest disposal option for most Australian households.

How it works. Most councils offer 1–2 free bulk waste pickups per year. You book online or by phone, leave the mattress on the kerb on the scheduled day, and the council collects it.

Booking process. Visit your council's website, find the "bulk waste" or "hard waste" page, and book a collection slot. Typical lead times are 2–6 weeks.

Typical cost. Free for the included annual collections. Additional pickups beyond the free quota typically cost $30–$80.

Scheduling. Most councils book in date ranges (e.g., "the week of 15 October") rather than specific days. Set your mattress out the night before to be safe.

Preparation. Wrap the mattress in plastic if possible — some councils require this to prevent contamination during weather. Keep mattresses out of direct sun where possible while waiting for collection.

Coverage areas. Almost all metropolitan councils offer this service. Regional areas may have limited or alternative arrangements.

Donation & Reuse Options

If your mattress is in good condition, donation is the most sustainable disposal choice — it extends the mattress's life and helps someone in need.

When mattress is still usable. No stains, no significant sagging, no mould or odour, and less than 5–7 years old. If you'd be happy to sleep on it for another year, it's donation-quality.

Charities accepting mattresses. Several Australian charities accept clean mattresses:

• Salvation Army (Salvos) — accepts mattresses in good condition; check local store policies

• St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) — varies by location; many stores accept clean mattresses

• Mission Australia — selected programs accept furniture donations

• Local community shelters — homeless shelters and women's refuges sometimes accept mattresses directly

Conditions for donation. Most charities won't accept stained, torn, or visibly worn mattresses — these go straight to recycling instead. Always check before transporting.

Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. Listing your mattress free or for a small fee on local marketplaces is another option. Buyers (often students or new arrivals) collect it themselves, saving you transport costs.

Extending mattress life sustainably. A donated mattress can serve another 2–5 years before its real end-of-life. That's years of resource conservation per donation.

Mattress Recycling Facilities

For mattresses too worn to donate, specialised recycling facilities are the next-best option.

Specialised recycling centres. Companies like Soft Landing (national), Tic Tac Recyclers (NSW/QLD), and various local operators dismantle mattresses and recover materials.

Location finding tools. Search:

• Soft Landing's website (national operator)

• Your council's recycling page

• Recycling Near You (recyclingnearyou.com.au) — searchable by postcode

Drop-off procedures. Most facilities accept walk-ins during business hours. Some require booking. Check the facility's website before driving out.

Transportation responsibility. You're typically responsible for transporting the mattress to the facility. Trailers, ute trays, or mattress bags help. Most facilities don't charge for foot drop-off, though some have small handling fees.

Acceptance criteria. Facilities typically accept any condition, including badly stained or damaged mattresses. They're equipped to dismantle and recover materials regardless of cosmetic state.

Mattress Component Recycling

Once at a recycling facility, here's what happens to each part:

Metal springs. Cut out, baled, and sold to scrap metal recyclers. Steel from one mattress can become car parts, structural beams, or new mattress springs.

Foam. Shredded into smaller pieces and used as carpet underlay (the most common reuse), sound insulation, or pet bedding filler. Higher-quality foam can be reformulated into new foam products.

Textiles. Cotton and polyester fibres are reclaimed for industrial textiles, insulation batting, or shredded fibre. Some go to landfill if too contaminated.

Wood/chipboard frames. Recycled as wood chip for landscaping, mulch, or biofuel.

What happens after recycling. A recycled mattress typically yields:

• ~12 kg steel (recycled into new metal products)
• ~6 kg foam (carpet underlay or insulation)
• ~3 kg textiles (industrial use or landfill)
• ~1 kg miscellaneous (frame, fasteners)

The foam, textiles, and wood that can't be recycled are sent to landfill — but specialised facilities reduce that to 20–30% of the mattress's mass, vs 100% if you skip recycling.

When to Recycle vs Donate

The right choice depends on the mattress's condition.

Donation criteria:

• No stains (especially urine, blood, vomit)
• No mould or mildew
• Less than 5–7 years old
• No significant sagging or visible wear
• Clean smell (no persistent odour)

Recycling criteria:

• Stains or discolouration
• Mould or mildew (always recycle, never donate)
• Over 7–10 years old
• Sagging, broken springs, or deformation
• Persistent smell

Ethical responsibility. Don't donate a mattress you wouldn't sleep on yourself. Charity stores spend resources sorting, transporting, and disposing of unusable donations — donating poor-quality items shifts the cost to the charity.

Financial considerations. Donation is usually free (charity collects). Recycling may cost a small fee. Council bulk waste is often free. Choose based on which option you can practically arrange.

Preparing Mattress for Disposal

A few simple steps make pickup or drop-off easier:

Cleaning before drop-off. Vacuum the mattress and spot-clean any obvious stains. Some recyclers prefer cleaner mattresses; some don't care. Either way, it makes the process more pleasant for the people handling it.

Disassembly considerations. Generally, don't disassemble. Recyclers have professional equipment for this; home disassembly is messy and dangerous (springs are sharp).

Wrapping or covering. Many councils require the mattress to be wrapped in plastic for weather protection. Mattress bags ($10–$30) work well; large heavy-duty plastic sheets are an alternative.

Transportation logistics. A queen mattress is too big for most cars. Options include:

• Council pickup (no transport needed)
• Trailer hire ($50–$100 for a half-day)
• Ute or van rental
• Friend with a tradie ute

Safety and handling. Mattresses are heavier than they look (25–45 kg). Two people make handling much safer. Use back-friendly lifting technique.

Environmental Impact

Choosing recycling or donation over landfill makes a real difference.

Landfill alternatives. A recycled mattress diverts ~20 kg of material from landfill. Multiplied across 1.8 million mattresses sold annually, the impact is significant.

Carbon footprint reduction. Manufacturing new steel from recycled scrap uses 75% less energy than mining and processing virgin materials. Recycled mattress springs directly support that energy saving.

Circular economy. When materials are recovered and reused, the mattress industry moves toward a circular model — where the end of one product's life feeds the start of another's.

Water and resource conservation. Manufacturing new foam, fabric, and steel requires significant water and resources. Recycling reduces all of these inputs.

Supporting sustainable practices. Choosing recycling or donation signals to manufacturers and councils that consumers care about sustainability — driving more investment in recycling infrastructure over time.

Ready to replace your mattress? 

When it's time to replace your mattress, Koala's mattress range is designed in Sydney with CertiPUR-US® certified foam and backed by a 120 day trial and 10-year warranty. Koala is a Certified B Corporation and 1% for the Planet member — and if a mattress doesn't suit, it's collected for free in major metro areas. 

Shop Koala's mattress range →