How to Dispose of a Mattress in San Jose, CA
Three ways to get rid of a mattress in San Jose, from free to fastest — with the city rules that decide whether it actually gets taken.
Booking a city pickup
Large items including mattresses, sofas, refrigerators and tires.
- How many items
- Unlimited — there is no cap on free junk pickups in a year.
- How to book
- Book at 311.sanjoseca.gov, on the San José 311 app, by dialling 311, or on (408) 535-3500.
- What it costs
- Free for residents.
- Good to know
- Everything must come from your own home, and the pickup has to be booked first. Items put out without an appointment count as illegal dumping.
The California mattress recycling program
California runs a statewide mattress recycling program funded by a fee collected when a new mattress is sold. Because that fee is already paid, dropping an old mattress off costs residents nothing.
Drop off your old mattress at no additional cost at participating collection sites.
The program does not include free household pickup. Scheduled container pickups exist only for businesses handling at least 100 mattresses a month.
- What it costs
- Free for residents at participating sites.
- How much at a time
- Participating sites typically cap drop-offs at 3 units per vehicle per day.
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 San Jose 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 San Jose →
Getting rid of a mattress in San Jose — common questions
Is mattress recycling free in California?
Free for residents at participating sites. The program does not include free household pickup. Scheduled container pickups exist only for businesses handling at least 100 mattresses a month.
How do I book a bulk pickup in San Jose?
Book at 311.sanjoseca.gov, on the San José 311 app, by dialling 311, or on (408) 535-3500. Unlimited — there is no cap on free junk pickups in a year.
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.
More on getting rid of stuff in San Jose
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