How to get rid of a mattress in Milwaukee, WI

Put the mattress at your regular collection point on your regular day. A queen mattress is one of Milwaukee's examples of a bulky item, and up to 1 cubic yard of bulky items is picked up free with no request.

Last checked against the official City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Sanitation Services website. See sources.

Cost
Free up to 1 cubic yard
When
Your regular collection day
Drop-off
North or South Drop Off Center

Drop Off Center summer hours (Tuesday to Sunday) end November 28, 2026; winter hours have been Tuesday to Saturday. Eastbound Lincoln Ave is closed from 43rd to 35th St, so reach the South Side center westbound from S. 35th St.

Option 1: City pickup (Bulky item pickup (1 cubic yard free; paid special pickup))

Who can use it

  • Only for properties with solid waste collection from City of Milwaukee Sanitation Services.

How to book

  1. Up to 1 cubic yard: no request needed; set it out at your regular collection point on your regular day.
  2. More than 1 cubic yard: set the items out, then request a special pickup online or call 414-286-CITY (2489).

Mattress rules

  • The City names a queen mattress as an example of a bulky item.
  • If your set-out is over 1 cubic yard (for example, a mattress plus box spring and other furniture), request a paid special pickup ($75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards).

Setting it out

  • Place items at your regular collection point (alley line or curb line).
  • Special pickup does not take more than 6 cubic yards, loose material, or mixed materials (construction waste, recyclables, tires, brush or yard waste); those piles are referred to the Department of Neighborhood Services as a property violation.
  • Not bulky waste: yard waste, electronics and TVs, appliances and tires. Take those to a Drop Off Center.

Fees and limits

  • Up to 1 cubic yard on your regular day: free.
  • Special pickup: $75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards; $225 for 4 to 6 cubic yards.
  • Drop Off Centers: loads under 1 cubic yard (a passenger car) are free; 1 to 3 cubic yards $20; 3 to 6 cubic yards $30; larger loads cost more. TVs $5 each (max 3). Recyclables and scrap metal are free regardless of volume.

Option 2: Drop it off yourself

  • The Drop Off Centers take mattresses (landfilled). A car-sized load under 1 cubic yard is free; the City's own example says a car with two mattresses on the roof counts as over 1 cubic yard, a $20 fee.
  • North Side Drop Off Center, 6660 Industrial Road, and South Side Drop Off Center, 3879 W. Lincoln Avenue. For City of Milwaukee residents and property owners with a current photo ID. 2026 summer hours (April 12 to November 28): Tuesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Winter hours (last posted for Nov 30, 2025 to Apr 11, 2026): Tuesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed City holidays, including Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday.
  • Not allowed: box trucks or trailers over 16 feet, dump trucks, flatbeds, semis and utility trucks.

Option 3: Donate or give it away

  • Habitat ReStores do not take mattresses under Habitat's national guidance.

Donation rules are set by each charity and can change. Call before you load up.

What we could not confirm

  • We could not find a City page that says whether mattresses must be bagged or wrapped, or that names a mattress recycling option in Milwaukee. Wisconsin has no Bye Bye Mattress state program.
  • The City has not yet posted its winter 2026-27 Drop Off Center dates; the winter schedule shown is last season's.

Common questions

Will Milwaukee pick up a mattress?
Yes, as a bulky item on your regular collection day, free within 1 cubic yard.
What if I have a mattress and box spring?
If the total is over 1 cubic yard, request a special pickup: $75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards.
Can I drop it off?
Yes, at a Drop Off Center with a current photo ID; fees depend on load size.

Sources

Last checked Oct 23, 2026. We read each page below on that date.

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