Considerations

• Before you donate your used mattress, you need to make sure it is clean and in good repair. Organizations won't accept mattresses with visible stains, structural problems or tears.
  
  

Laws

• In some areas, throwing away a mattress is illegal, meaning recycling and donation are your only options.
  
  

Who Won't Take Them

• Charities like Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries usually don't take mattresses, due to hygienic concerns.
  
  

Who Will Take Them

• Missions, homeless shelters, crisis centers and halfway houses need a lot of beds and are usually happy to take a mattress donation.
  
  

Recyclers

• Donate your old mattress to a recycler, where the fiber, steel, metal and foam can be separated then used to make new mattresses.
  
  

Tips

• Whether you donate to a recycler or a charity, ask if they can pick up the mattress. Most will do so for free. Also, ask for a receipt, so you can write off the donation on your taxes.