Mattress Recycling Fees

As of January 1, 2025, California State Law requires California-based retailers to collect a $16.00 “recycle fee” on each mattress, foundation, and adjustable base sold in their brick-and-mortar store location or on their websites.

This recycling fee is 'per piece,' so if your mattress, foundation, or adjustable base comes in two or more pieces, the fee will be charged for each piece. For example, a King mattress set comes in three pieces (one for the mattress and two for the foundation), so the total recycling fees would be $48.00.

The State of California decided the amount of this fee, and it is not set or controlled by Orange County Mattress.

The fee funds the a mattress recycling program, which is administered by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) in Virginia.

If I don’t plan to recycle an old mattress, why do I have to pay this fee?

Even if you aren’t parting with your mattress right now, a mattress doesn’t last forever, and will eventually be discarded. The program uses a network of participating cities, towns, retailers, recyclers and other organizations to collect, transport and properly recycle your old mattress.

If I decide to recycle the mattress myself, do I still pay the fee?

Yes, state law requires retailers to collect this fee on any mattress sale to fund the state’s mattress recycling program.

You may receive a modest financial incentive if you drop off your used mattress at a designated recycling location.

I didn’t pay this fee on my old mattress, so will it be accepted for recycling?

Yes, all mattresses originating in participating states, including California, are eligible for no-cost recycling, regardless of when they were purchased.

A retailer didn’t take back my old mattress because it deemed it unacceptable. Can MRC or the store refund my recycling fee?

No, state law requires retailers to collect this fee on any mattress to fund the state’s mattress recycling program. Contaminated mattresses posing a health or safety hazard are not eligible for recycling through the program.

Now that we have this new program, what happens to my old mattress or box spring?

The old mattresses and/or box springs are dismantled and the steel, foam, fabric and wood are separated and used to make new products.

To learn more about this announcement, visit Mattress Recycling Council.