State rule

Massachusetts

Massachusetts bans mattresses from disposal or transfer for disposal. MassDEP's waste-ban guide lists mattresses as banned effective November 1, 2022. That is why Boston does not take mattresses with regular trash.

The MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans guide says that on November 1, 2022 the agency added mattresses and textiles to the materials banned from disposal or transport for disposal in Massachusetts.

The same guide's table lists "Mattresses (effective November 1, 2022)" among materials currently banned from disposal or transfer for disposal. It says the bans are in section 19.017 of the Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations, 310 CMR 19.000.

MassDEP's mattress and textile waste-ban FAQ says the ban took effect November 1, 2022. It defines a mattress as any resilient material or combination of materials enclosed by ticking and intended for sleeping upon, and says a mattress includes any foundation or box spring. It excludes mattresses contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances. It also says the definition does not include a mattress pad, mattress topper, sleeping bag, pillow, or mattresses in futons and sofa beds, among other products. All sizes, including crib mattresses, are included, and the FAQ says full-foam, latex, and mattress-in-a-box products are included.

Boston's mattress page says recycling mattresses is a state requirement and that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has banned mattresses from disposal. The city page, not this state page, has the Boston appointment rule.

City pages

• Mattress disposal in Boston, Massachusetts