Getting rid of a mattress in York is not complicated, but it does take a little planning because the easiest route depends on how much time you have and whether you can move it yourself. Here are all four options with current prices.
- Four ways to get rid of a mattress in York: council collection, Hazel Court tip, charity reuse, or a collection service.
- Cheapest if you can wait: council bulky waste at roughly £20–£30 with a 1–3 week wait. Free if you can transport it: Hazel Court HWRC.
- Charities only take clean, dry, undamaged mattresses, so always phone before assuming.
- Wet, mouldy, or infested mattresses need a licensed waste carrier, not the kerbside.
- Mukin collects single mattresses from £40–£80, same day across York.
01Quick answer
York City Council bulky waste collection costs around £20–£30 and typically takes 1–3 weeks from booking. Hazel Court HWRC on Hazel Court Road, YO10 3DS, is free if you can transport the mattress yourself, with no booking needed for a car.
Most York charities will take a clean, undamaged mattress by arrangement. If you want it gone today, Mukin charges £40–£80 for a single collection in York.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Council bulky waste | £20–£30 | 1–3 weeks | Budget, not urgent |
| Hazel Court HWRC | Free | When you can get there | Have transport |
| Charity donation | Free | By arrangement | Clean, undamaged mattress |
| Mukin collection | £40–£80 | Same day | No transport, no time |
02Option 1: York City Council bulky waste collection
The council's bulky waste collection service accepts mattresses as a standard item. You book online or by phone, leave the mattress at the kerbside on the collection morning, and the crew picks it up.
Current pricing is approximately £20–£30 per mattress. Confirm current rates on the City of York Council website, as prices are subject to change.
Collection days are weekdays only. You must leave the mattress at the kerbside, not in a rear garden or on a first-floor landing.
The main limitation is time. Typical wait from booking to collection is 1–3 weeks depending on demand. If you have a fixed move-out date or need the room cleared urgently, this option may not fit your timeline.
03Option 2: Hazel Court HWRC (the tip)
Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre is at Hazel Court Road, York, YO10 3DS, near the south edge of the university campus. Mattresses are accepted free of charge for York residents arriving in a standard car.
If you are arriving in a van, pickup, or vehicle with a trailer, you need a free residents' permit from York Council in advance. Without a permit, vans are turned away. Apply for a free permit through the City of York Council website before you travel. See our full Hazel Court guide for opening hours and other details.
The practical constraint: you need to load the mattress into the vehicle yourself. For a double or king mattress, you typically need two people and a van or estate car with the seats folded flat. If you do not have a vehicle large enough, this route is not viable.
Towthorpe / Strensall HWRC (Moor Lane, Strensall, York, YO32 9ST) is York's only other recycling centre, north of the city. The same van permit rules apply.
04Option 3: Charity reuse
Some York charities accept mattresses, but only if they meet strict criteria. Fire safety regulations mean most organisations will only take mattresses that are clean, stain-free, dry, and showing no signs of infestation.
Contact the British Heart Foundation, Emmaus York, or local furniture reuse networks to ask in advance. Do not assume acceptance. Phone first. A mattress refused at collection point cannot be returned to a donation truck.
If the mattress meets the criteria, this is the best outcome: it goes to someone who needs it rather than a recycling facility. However, most mattresses from a clearance are not in condition for reuse, so this option applies to a minority of cases.
05Option 4: Collection by Mukin
If you need it gone today, cannot get to Hazel Court, or have a mattress that no charity will take, Mukin can collect it as a single item or as part of a larger clearance.
- Single mattress collection in York: typically £40–£80 depending on location and access
- As part of a larger clearance: included in the fixed quote, no separate mattress surcharge
- Infested or damaged mattresses: handled and disposed of correctly via licensed facilities
Same-day collection is available across York when you call before noon on 07857 386029. All disposal is under licensed duty of care with a waste transfer note provided.
Awkward access is not a problem
We regularly collect from upper-floor flats in York, including Victorian terraces with narrow stairs. If there is no lift, we bring the right equipment. Send us a photo of the stairwell if you are unsure.
06Can you put a mattress in a skip?
Most York skip hire companies either refuse mattresses or add a surcharge of £15–£30 per mattress because they require separate disposal. If you are hiring a skip for a renovation and want to throw a mattress in, check with the company first. Getting a surcharge added at the end of the hire is a common surprise. See our skip hire vs man-and-van comparison for more on what skips will and will not accept.
07Can mattresses be recycled?
Yes. A standard spring mattress is largely recyclable by material:
- Steel springs go to scrap metal processing
- Foam is processed into carpet underlay and insulation padding
- Fibre and ticking can be used as industrial wadding or insulation
- Timber frames (in older mattresses) are chipped for biomass
Licensed waste carriers route mattresses to specialist mattress recycling facilities. When Mukin collects a mattress, it goes to a licensed facility rather than a general landfill site. Your waste transfer note records this.
08Wet, mouldy, or infested mattresses
If the mattress is wet, showing mould, or has evidence of bedbugs, most options are closed to you. The council may refuse on inspection. Charities will not take it. Even some skip companies add restrictions.
The practical route is a licensed waste carrier like Mukin. A badly damaged mattress goes to a specialist disposal facility where it can be safely handled. It is not recyclable in the same way as a standard mattress, but it can be disposed of legally and without creating a pest risk.
Do not leave a bedbug-infested mattress at the kerbside before your collection date. The risk of spreading the infestation to neighbours is real.