How to Dispose of a Mattress in Hillcrest (San Diego)
Does Hillcrest have its own rules? No — it is part of San Diego, and the city sets what gets collected, when, and what it costs. Here is what that means on your street.
Does Hillcrest have its own collection rules?
No. Hillcrest is a neighborhood of San Diego, not a separate city, so it has no waste department of its own. Everything — what gets taken at the curb, how many items you get, what needs booking, what it costs — is set by City of San Diego Environmental Services Department and applies the same way on every street in Hillcrest.
That is worth knowing because neighborhood-level advice is where most bad information comes from. If a page promises you a rule that only applies in your neighborhood, it is inventing one. The San Diego rules below are the real ones.
What applies on your street
- At the curb
- The City of San Diego does not run a bulky item or curbside pickup service, so a mattress left at the curb will not be collected. Your options are a drop-off or a private hauler.
- Dropping it off
- Free — mattresses and box springs are accepted at no charge under the state Bye Bye Mattress program.
- Mattress recycling
- Free for residents at participating sites.
Full San Diego rules
- How to Dispose of a Mattress in San Diego, CA
- Bulk Trash Pickup in San Diego, CA: Rules, Limits and Fees
- Mattress Recycling in San Diego, CA
- Free Mattress Disposal in San Diego, CA
- San Diego Dump and Drop-Off Fees
Or have someone take it
City routes are cheap but slow, and they all assume you can get the item to the curb yourself. If it is upstairs, if it is heavy, or if you need it gone this week, a local pro is the faster answer.
Post the job free, and vetted pros in Hillcrest bid on it. You pick the offer you like and pay your pro directly — JunkerClub takes no cut of the price.
See what mattress removal costs in Hillcrest →
Getting rid of a mattress in Hillcrest — common questions
Does Hillcrest have its own bulk pickup?
No. Hillcrest is part of San Diego and uses the city service — there is no separate neighborhood collection to sign up for.
Can I leave a mattress at the curb in Hillcrest?
The City of San Diego does not run a bulky item or curbside pickup service, so a mattress left at the curb will not be collected. Your options are a drop-off or a private hauler.
Where this comes from
Checked against official sources on 2026-08-19. City rules change — if something here does not match, the city page wins.
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