How to Get Rid of a Mattress in Jersey City, NJ
✓ Last verified October 22, 2026 against official Jersey City, New Jersey and retailer sources. See sources.
Quick answer
- Wrap the mattress and box spring completely in plastic. Jersey City's code and DPW guidelines require it.
- Up to four bulk items (furniture, mattresses, box springs) can go out per regular trash collection day.
- City documents disagree on whether you need an appointment: one says call JCDPW at 201-547-4400 to schedule, another says no appointment needed. Call to be safe.
- Set it out the night before your collection day. City sheets give different windows (7–10 p.m. or 5–7 p.m.), so confirm with DPW.
Your options in Jersey City
Curbside bulk pickup with your regular trash Free
Jersey City collects trash twice a week, and residents can put out up to four bulk items per collection day. Bulk items include furniture, mattresses, box springs and other bedding. The city's Bulk/Special Disposal guidelines tell you to call JCDPW to schedule a bulk pickup, but the city's Household Waste Collection sheet says no appointment is needed. Call 201-547-4400 before you put it out. No fee is listed.
- Limit
- Up to 4 bulk items per collection day
- Prep
- Mattresses, box springs and bedding must be fully wrapped in plastic
- Set-out
- Night before your collection day: 7–10 p.m. per the Bulk/Special Disposal guidelines (another city sheet says 5–7 p.m.)
- Questions
- JCDPW Division of Sanitation, 201-547-4400
Sources: Jersey City DPW, Division of Sanitation – Bulk/Special Disposal guidelines (PDF); Jersey City DPW, Division of Sanitation – Household Waste Collection (PDF); Jersey City DPW – Recycling & Waste Collection Schedule (PDF)
Wrap it in plastic (it's the law) Free
Jersey City Ordinance 17-057, adopted to curb the spread of bed bugs, amended the city's solid waste code. Mattresses, box springs and bedding must be wrapped in plastic bags that cover all exposed areas. Items a pest-management professional has said can't be treated must go in a sealed plastic bag marked "CAUTION UNTREATABLE." Objects too big for a trash can, or heavier than 60 pounds, can go out only at places and times set by appointment with DPW.
Source: Jersey City Ordinance 17-057 – mattress disposal (PDF)
Hire help to carry it out Varies
If you can't get the mattress down the stairs and to the curb, moving helpers or a junk-removal company can do it for a fee. Make sure it's wrapped and goes out only on your collection night.
Source: Jersey City DPW, Division of Sanitation – Bulk/Special Disposal guidelines (PDF)
Don't do this
- Don't put out an unwrapped mattress. City code requires plastic covering all exposed areas.
- Don't put out more than four bulk items on one collection day.
- Don't set it out early. Use the evening window on the night before collection.
Or pay someone to haul it
If you can't get it to a drop-off site, or can't wait for city pickup, a junk-removal service can take it from inside your home. Prices depend on the company, your location and the size of the load, so get a quote first. Ask whether they recycle or donate items and whether they follow Jersey City's rules, especially for electronics and paint. Another option is to hire moving helpers by the hour: they do the lifting, and with a truck they can drive it to a drop-off site. They move it where you tell them, so pick a legal destination from this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Jersey City pick up mattresses for free?
Yes. Mattresses are bulk items collected with regular trash, up to four bulk items per collection day. The city doesn't list a fee.
Do I need to schedule a mattress pickup in Jersey City?
City documents disagree. The Bulk/Special Disposal guidelines say to call JCDPW at 201-547-4400 to schedule, but the Household Waste Collection sheet says no appointment is needed. Call to confirm.
Does the mattress have to be wrapped?
Yes. Ordinance 17-057 requires mattresses, box springs and bedding to be wrapped in plastic bags covering all exposed areas.
Sources
All checked on October 22, 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the source before you go.