How to Recycle a Mattress in Vancouver

Close up of an old mattress that will be recycled in Vancouver.

Getting rid of stuff is difficult for some people. But there are many reasons to dispose of a mattress. It might have had a bed bug infestation, perhaps one has upgraded to a newer, bigger or better mattress, or perhaps the mattress simply reached the end of its life. But not every mattress needs to be destined for the landfill. In fact, most mattresses are made of recyclable materials.


Close up of an old mattress that will be recycled in Vancouver.

Mattress Recycling in Vancouver

Even though the city tries to make it easy and convenient to recycle mattresses, not everyone takes the opportunity. We are all familiar with the sight of abandoned mattresses that line the alley ways, with the problem usually peaking at the end of the month when people are getting ready to move. It is a sad sight to see, especially in Vancouver when the rain comes — discarded, soggy and sagging mattresses now rendered completely useless.

Disposing mattresses might not be the most convenient job to undertake. However, it is important that consumers act responsibly and make the effort to see that their purchases are recycled when possible. Keeping things out of the landfill as much as possible is an important step that we should all take.

In addition, ditching a mattress in an alley or on the sidewalk simply offloads the responsibility onto someone else. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it’s illegal and could result in fines for illegal dumping if you are caught.

Recycling Your Mattress in Vancouver is Convenient and Easy

The city of Vancouver tries to make it as convenient as possible to recycle mattresses. They even offer a system to help if a mattress has/had bedbugs.

Practically all transfer stations accept mattresses for recycling, so all you have to do is transport the mattress there and then pay the nominal fee. If finding a vehicle to move your mattress and box spring seems like an impossible feat, there are many companies that offer junk removal or mattress moving services.

Some companies specialize in mattress removal and do all the work for you. They will show up at your home and haul it away to the land of recycling and you’ll never have to think about it again. If that’s out of your budget, some entrepreneurial souls on message boards offer hourly truck services for a low fee.


Vancouver city skyline at night

What If you are recycling a mattress with Bed bugs?

If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of dealing with bedbugs and that is why you want to recycle your mattress and box spring, the city of Vancouver will still take them. In order to isolate the problem and keep it from spreading, the city asks that you take the following steps:

  1. Wrap it in a plastic mattress bag or plastic sheeting (for sale at shops selling mattresses or moving supplies)
  2. Seal it
  3. Label it “contains bedbugs”


 Mattresses stacked in piles ready for recycle in Vancouver

Not All Mattresses Can Be Recycled

While the city tries to reduce the waste at landfills but not every single mattress can be recycled. If you are unsure whether your mattress and box spring qualifies to be recycled, simply call the city to ask.

What you should not ever do, however, is leave your mattress in an alley or on the sidewalk hoping that someone will pick it up. Not only is it illegal, it is irresponsible. It feels much better knowing that you’ve taken the steps asked of you to act as a responsible consumer. And you can’t deny that recycling is simply fun!


What our customers are saying


  • Thank you for your great customer service and knowledge. It was great working with Mark and his staff. We purchased a “Pure Energy Mattress”. We love the bed. I’ve had a great sleep every night since buying our bed. I wake up refreshed and spent less time in bed, nothing hurts or aches. ( my husband says I no longer snore ). I look forward to going to bed at night. This truly is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. We tried about a dozen beds and also went to other bed stores. Mark and his staff were very knowledgeable, helpful, and the service was great. Elaine, White Rock, BC
  • Just wanted you to know how much my Pure Energy bed has helped me over the last year. I had cervical spinal stenosis surgery in April 2017 and honestly I missed my bed, when I could finally use my bed again (after 4 weeks) I feel so much better and it sure has helped with my recovery. The staff at your store are great, when my bed needed to be made lower out came the guys and adjusted for me. You guys really rock. Thank you. Gillian Roberts
  • After purchasing an Pure Energy Mattress and Talalay pillows from Mark at WR Mattress Gallery, we are recommending him to all our friends and family. Our Pure Energy Recovery Mattress has notably improved our sleep and we are enjoying the most restful nights. Mark is extremely knowledgeable about all things sleep and found us exactly the right mattress for a price we couldn’t beat anywhere. Besides the excellent product knowledge and advice we received from Mark, the service we received from him and Jamie was top notch. Thanks WR Mattress Gallery! Michelle
  • To Raman–Mark. We first bought a queen size bed , but after breaking my right shoulder we needed a King size .We are enjoying the benefits of the Pure Energy Recovery mattress and pillows , experiencing a wonderful sleep , as they say , just what the Doc ordered. Thanks for your interest in explaining to us in detail , your help and cooperation was much appreciated. Gail and Bob Walton, Surrey BC
  • I highly recommend WR Mattress Gallery. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in the right place. Raman was so knowledgeable and helped my husband and I find the perfect mattress set. She listened to what we were looking for, and made great recommendations, never rushing us or pushing for the sale. Delivery was quick and the service was professional. I would not hesitate to shop here in the future and will definitely tell everyone I know to go there next time they are looking for a mattress. Nadine Daviss
  • Had a great experience with WR Mattress, start to finish. I appreciated the product knowledge and patience of salesman Ben, prices were good, delivery/setup was top-notch, and the beds are super-comfortable. Being able to shop local and give the big national retailers a swerve was a definite bonus. I highly recommend this business. Jane Chomyn
  • We recently purchased the Active Cell Technology mattress with the ergo motion frame and we are very pleased with our purchase. We were tired of waking up with sore hips and sore backs and honestly within a few nights we were sleeping more comfortably and waking up without aches and pains. The set up was flawless and our sales associate Jamie checked in with us too see how we were doing and asked if we had any questions. We are really happy with this purchase. Becky K
  • Bought a cabinet bed and am very, very pleased with the staff at WR Mattress!! Great help in selecting the best one for my needs, very attentive on timeline to receive it and then offered service to deliver/setup even though I live on the Sunshine Coast. The quality of the cabinet bed is top notch - highly recommend them. Pat D
  • We purchased an adjustable bed several weeks ago. It was delivered within the promised time frame by professional, courteous, and efficient delivery staff, removing the old and installing the new bed in less than an hour. Service has been excellent throughout the entire process, and we are happy with the adjustable base and mattress quality. J. Akam
  • Dave provided great service in helping us select mattresses for my in laws and purchasing a new box spring for myself. The delivery was quick and efficient. They were incredibly helpful in getting everything set up and taking away our old mattresses. Diana & Tim Wong
  • I purchased a new box spring over the phone. The girl was very courteous and helpful. The delivery men called to say they could come early if it was convenient for me. They were very polite, removed their shoes and had on face masks. They were very careful of my walls going upstairs. They adjusted the box spring and then offered to move my mattress. They were very efficient and courteous. Excellent service. Ronda Ross
  • UNBELIEVABLE SERVICE! Raman, Jamie and Dave and even the delivery team, everyone I dealt with in this company provided me A1 service from the first time I walked through the door. They seem to care more that you are happy and comfortable with your purchase than they are in pushing a sale, which I rarely see in sales businesses these days. They educated me and took their time with me without any pressure. The prices are as good as you will get anywhere but the service and after purchase support is something you will never get anywhere else. This is what makes them the best. I would highly recommend dealing with WR Mattress and will certainly be back - thanks guys! Frank Martin
  • Nothing but praise for the professionalism of all employees from the owner, to the sales and delivery personnel. A very pleasant and memorable experience for us after disappointing experiences and products from competitors. We will certainly be spreading the good word about our WR experience and the quality and comport of our WR mattress. Thank you. John Witney
  • From the beginning to the end an amazing experience. Sales rep was extremely knowledgeable. Explained about the latex mattress and it's benefits and the difference from foam. Even the delivery was very professional. Both movers wore masks, took their shoes off when entering my home and unwrapped the mattress and took away the wrapping. Very satisfied will only use WR Mattress for my next purchase and definitely recommend them. Raj Singh