Recycle an Old Mattress in Ireland Without Dumping It or Paying the Wrong Service
An old mattress should normally go to a civic amenity site, a dedicated mattress recycling project or an authorised collection service. It should not go into a household wheelie bin, beside a bring bank or outside a recycling-centre gate.
Use this guide to choose between council drop-off, specialist collection, retailer take-back and temporary free mattress amnesties, then check the exact price and acceptance rules for your county before moving the mattress.
How Do You Dispose of a Mattress in Ireland?
MyWaste’s national guidance says an unwanted mattress should be brought to a civic amenity site or a mattress recycling project. Householders can also use authorised collection services, ask a mattress retailer about old-mattress removal when purchasing a replacement, or use a local authority mattress amnesty when one is officially announced.
Usually the cheapest route
Transport the mattress yourself to a civic amenity or recycling centre that accepts mattresses. Charges vary by council and site, so check the individual centre rather than assuming one national fee.
Usually the easiest route
Book an authorised mattress collection from your home. This normally costs more than self-drop-off but avoids trying to fit a bulky mattress into a car or trailer.
Do not leave a mattress beside bins, bottle banks or a closed recycling-centre gate. That is not a disposal service and can amount to illegal dumping.
Five Legal Routes for Mattress Recycling in Ireland
Civic amenity or recycling centre
Use your council or MyWaste locator to find a site that specifically accepts mattresses. Check the mattress fee, vehicle entry charge, opening hours and maximum quantity before travelling.
Dedicated mattress recycling project
MyWaste specifically identifies specialist mattress recycling projects in the east and west of Ireland. These can offer drop-off, home collection or both, depending on the provider and area.
Authorised bulky-waste collector
Useful when you have a mattress together with a bed base, sofa or other bulky household items. Confirm the collector holds the appropriate waste collection authorisation and ask where the material will be taken.
Retailer removal
When ordering a replacement mattress, ask the retailer whether it can collect your old mattress at delivery and whether the mattress will be recycled. Take-back terms and fees differ between retailers.
Local mattress amnesty
Some councils fund limited free recycling days. These events usually have specific dates, household-only rules and quantity limits, so an old amnesty notice should never be treated as a permanent free service.
Find a Mattress Recycling Centre Near You
There is no single national civic amenity charge or mattress policy. Start with the MyWaste waste-services locator, then open the actual council or recycling-centre page for the facility you plan to use.
Search your address or town
Use the MyWaste locator to identify civic amenity or recycling centres near you.
Check that mattresses are explicitly accepted
Do not assume every bottle bank, bring centre or recycling point can take bulky mattresses.
Check both mattress and gate charges
Some sites charge a fixed mattress fee. Others can add a vehicle or gate charge, so read the full price list.
Check quantity and vehicle rules
Multiple mattresses, vans, trailers or commercial-looking loads can be treated differently from one household mattress in a car.
How Much Does Mattress Recycling Cost in Ireland?
There is no standard national mattress disposal price. Council centres, specialist recyclers and collection services set their own fees, and prices can depend on mattress size, whether you deliver it yourself, and whether a vehicle entry fee also applies.
| Example route | Current published example | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Cork City Civic Amenity Site | Single €15; Double €20; King €20 | Current council mattress charges; check site rules before travelling. |
| South Dublin Ballymount | €35 per mattress | Council states this is in addition to the appropriate vehicle gate fee. |
| Tipperary civic amenity sites | Single €18; Double €20 | Normal council charge; temporary amnesty events can override it on specified dates. |
| Bounce Back Galway drop-off | Single €15; Double €20; King €25 | Drop-off at its Galway facility during listed opening hours. |
| Bounce Back collection | Single €35; Double €40; King/Queen €45; Super King/Queen €55 | Minimum order is €30; routes and availability differ by county. |
| Ecomatt home service | €35 per mattress | Current website states free collection on orders over €40 in its covered counties. |
| Recycle IT Dublin | €40 including VAT per mattress | This is the stated standard drop-off price after its 2026 South Dublin amnesty; collection costs extra. |
These are examples, not an Ireland-wide tariff. Check the exact facility or collector immediately before booking because rates can change and some centres also charge for the vehicle or additional bulky items.
Mattress Collection Services in Ireland
A collection service is useful if you cannot transport a mattress safely. MyWaste currently points households toward specialist projects including Bounce Back Recycling in the west and Eco Mattress Recycling/Ecomatt in the east.
Bounce Back Recycling
Bounce Back operates from Ballybrit in Galway and offers mattress drop-off and collection. Its current routes include Galway, wider Connacht, Dublin and several counties in the midlands and west.
Published approximate collection timing includes Galway City within about two working days, Dublin around seven working days, and Clare, Limerick and Tipperary around fourteen working days. Bookings remain subject to route availability.
Phone: 091 760877
Ecomatt / Eco Mattress Recycling
Ecomatt advertises household mattress and furniture collection across Dublin, Wicklow, Meath and Westmeath, Louth, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan and Longford.
Its current website lists €35 per mattress and free collection on orders over €40. Availability, item condition and service-area coverage should still be checked when booking.
Home collection: 085 2021555 / 086 1642293
Dublin note: authorised bulky-waste services vary. Fingal County Council publishes a list of authorised bulky-waste and mattress collectors, which is useful for checking that a service is legitimate before handing over waste.
Are There Free Mattress Amnesty Days in Ireland in 2026?
Yes, but a mattress amnesty is normally a temporary council-funded event rather than a permanent national entitlement. By late September 2026, several widely advertised 2026 events have already taken place.
| 2026 example | What was offered | Status / lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Tipperary | Free events at Nenagh, Roscrea, Cashel, Donohill and Carrigeen; maximum three mattresses per household. | August 2026 dates have passed. Normal centre charges apply unless another event is announced. |
| Kildare | Free event at Silliot Hill, Kilcullen on 6 September; maximum six eligible mattresses per delivery. | Event has passed. Divans, frames, couches and other bulky waste were excluded. |
| South Dublin | Council/Recycling IT mattress amnesty operated during 2026. | The organiser states the 2026 free programme ended on 26 September; standard paid service now applies. |
How to find the next one: search your county or city council’s Environment/Waste news page for “mattress amnesty”, then verify the date, location, booking requirement, household limit and accepted mattress types.
Never rely on an old Facebook post or previous-year event. Free days frequently have strict dates and limits. Outside the advertised event window, normal charges can apply.
Ask the Mattress Retailer About Take-Back Before Delivery
If you are replacing the mattress, ask the retailer about old-mattress removal before completing the purchase. Some retailers work with recycling operators and can remove the old mattress when the new one is delivered.
Ask these questions
- Will you take my old mattress?
- Is collection on the same day as delivery?
- What is the charge?
- Does the mattress need to be dry or bagged?
- Do you take the bed base as well?
- Is the mattress recycled rather than disposed of as residual waste?
Do not assume take-back is automatic
The national MyWaste guidance does not establish a universal free retailer mattress take-back rule. A retailer may offer a paid recycling service, use a recycling partner or have no service for your delivery area.
Confirm the arrangement before the delivery vehicle arrives.
Can You Donate an Old Mattress Instead?
MyWaste suggests donation when an item is new, unused and unwanted. A used mattress is harder to donate because charities and reuse organisations may have hygiene, fire-safety, storage or collection restrictions.
Worth asking about
An unused mattress still in suitable condition may have a reuse route. Contact the organisation first and describe its condition rather than arriving without approval.
Recycle instead when
The mattress is worn, stained, damaged, wet, broken, infested or otherwise unsuitable for another household. Do not donate an item that simply transfers a disposal problem to a charity.
What Happens When a Mattress Is Recycled?
Specialist recyclers dismantle mattresses so useful material streams can be separated rather than treating the whole mattress as bulky residual waste.
Metal
Steel springs and other metal components can enter scrap-metal recycling streams.
Foam and fibres
Specialist processors can recover foam, padding and textile fibres for suitable secondary applications.
Wood
Wooden components from some mattresses and bed bases can be separated from the other material streams for appropriate processing.
For example, Bounce Back says its mattresses are dismantled by hand at its Galway depot, while Ecomatt describes upcycling recovered textile and foam materials into products such as insulation and underlay.
How to Prepare an Old Mattress for Recycling
Confirm the destination first
Do not carry the mattress downstairs or load a trailer until you know the centre or collector accepts it and you understand the price.
Identify the size
Know whether it is single, double, king/queen or super king because specialist recycling prices can vary by size.
Separate the base and headboard
A mattress, divan/base and headboard can be priced as separate items. Do not assume one mattress fee covers the complete bed.
Keep it dry
If collection is booked for later, store the mattress under cover. Ask the collector before wrapping it because individual services may have different preparation requirements.
Arrange safe handling
Mattresses are awkward rather than simply heavy. Use two people where needed and avoid blocking stairs, footpaths or vehicle access while waiting for collection.
Mattress Disposal From an Apartment or Rental Home
Do not leave an old mattress beside communal bins unless the property manager has specifically arranged a bulky-waste collection. Normal shared-bin contracts rarely mean residents can leave unrestricted bulky waste in the bin store.
Apartment resident
Ask the management company or landlord whether a building-wide bulky-waste collection is scheduled. If not, book an authorised collector that can access the property.
Moving out
Arrange disposal before the final day of the tenancy. A mattress left in a bin room, hallway or kerbside can create a waste problem rather than completing the move-out process.
Why You Should Check Who Collects Your Mattress
Under Ireland’s waste rules, the person holding or producing waste has responsibilities for how it is managed. Using a cheap but unauthorised collector can create problems if the mattress is later dumped.
Avoid “cash only, no questions asked” removal offers if you cannot verify the service. Ask who the waste collector is, whether it is authorised for the service, and where the mattress will be brought.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment states that serious unauthorised dumping offences can attract substantial fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. Local authorities and the EPA’s environmental enforcement system handle illegal-waste enforcement.
Signs to check before handing over a mattress
- The business gives a real company or trading name.
- You can identify its waste collection authorisation where required.
- The collector explains the destination or recycling route.
- The quote clearly states which items are being removed.
- You receive appropriate booking or payment confirmation.
Mattress Disposal Examples Around Ireland
Local rules matter because centres can have different charges, vehicle rules and accepted materials even within the same broad recycling network.
Dublin
Our Ballymun Recycling Centre guide covers a Dublin City Council centre where mattresses are accepted as a chargeable bulky item, subject to the site’s current limits and vehicle rules.
Tipperary
See the Cashel Recycling Centre guide for the current Tipperary civic amenity charge structure, including normal mattress rates.
Wicklow
Our Wicklow Recycling Centre guide helps residents identify the correct county recycling centre before travelling with bulky waste.
Anywhere in Ireland
Use our Ireland recycling-centre directory guide together with MyWaste and the relevant council’s current facility page.
Mattress Recycling Ireland FAQ
Where can I recycle a mattress in Ireland?
MyWaste recommends taking an unwanted mattress to a civic amenity site or mattress recycling project. You can also use an authorised home collection service or a local mattress amnesty when one is officially available.
Can a mattress go in the household recycling bin?
No. A mattress is bulky waste and is not suitable for a normal household recycling, general-waste or food-waste wheelie bin.
How much does it cost to recycle a mattress in Ireland?
There is no national price. Current examples range from €15 for some self-drop-off single mattresses to €35 or more for some collection or council routes. Vehicle entry charges can also apply at certain facilities.
Can I get an old mattress collected from my home?
Yes. Specialist recyclers and authorised bulky-waste companies offer home collection in many parts of Ireland. Confirm coverage, total price, collection date and whether bases or headboards cost extra.
Does Bounce Back Recycling collect mattresses?
Yes. Bounce Back offers mattress collection and Galway drop-off. Its collection routes currently cover Galway and other parts of Connacht as well as Dublin, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and other listed areas subject to availability.
Does Eco Mattress Recycling collect mattresses?
Ecomatt/Eco Mattress Recycling currently advertises home collection in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath/Westmeath, Louth, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan and Longford. Check the current booking page for availability and pricing.
Are mattress amnesty days free?
Usually the advertised mattress disposal is free during the specific event, but conditions apply. Councils can limit the number of mattresses, restrict the service to households and exclude bed bases, frames, sofas or commercial customers.
Are there still free mattress amnesties in 2026?
Several 2026 programmes have already taken place, including events in Tipperary, Kildare and South Dublin. Always check your own council’s latest Environment or Waste notices because old dates do not create an ongoing free service.
Can I donate a used mattress to charity?
Do not assume a charity accepts used mattresses. MyWaste suggests donation for new, unused unwanted items. For any mattress, contact the organisation first and confirm its condition rules and whether it can legally and practically accept it.
Will a mattress shop take my old mattress away?
Some retailers provide mattress removal or work with recycling partners, but there is no single universal service or price across all retailers. Ask before purchasing the replacement mattress.
Can I leave an old mattress beside communal bins?
No, unless an authorised bulky-waste collection has specifically been arranged for that location. Leaving a mattress beside communal bins does not automatically make it part of the normal waste service.
Can I leave a mattress outside a recycling centre when it is closed?
No. Take the mattress home and return during accepted hours or arrange another authorised disposal route. Leaving bulky waste outside the gate can constitute illegal dumping.
Sources Checked for This 2026 Mattress Recycling Guide
The national disposal route was checked against MyWaste and government waste guidance. Current service examples and prices were checked directly against council or recycling-provider information rather than using a single generic Ireland-wide estimate.
- MyWaste — Mattress Disposal Guidance
- MyWaste — Recycling and Civic Amenity Locator
- Bounce Back Recycling — Mattress Collection and Drop-Off
- Ecomatt / Eco Mattress Recycling — Collection Service
- Cork City Council — Civic Amenity Charges
- South Dublin County Council — Recycling Centre Charges
- Tipperary County Council — 2026 Mattress Amnesty
- Kildare County Council — 2026 Mattress Amnesty
- Government of Ireland — Waste Enforcement
Best Next Step for Your Old Mattress
If you can transport it safely, first check the nearest civic amenity site and compare its mattress fee with a specialist drop-off. If transport is the problem, request a collection quote from an authorised mattress or bulky-waste recycler.
Before paying, confirm the total price, exact mattress size, collection or drop-off date, whether the base costs extra, and what happens to the mattress after collection.
Independent information guide: RecyclingCentreIreland.org does not operate civic amenity sites, mattress recycling companies or council amnesty schemes. Local prices and event dates can change, so use the linked authority or service provider for the final check.