Austin’s landfill diversion programs encourage residents to re‑home usable items whenever possible. Organizations have different policies for mattress donations. Most require mattresses to be clean and in very good condition; stained or torn mattresses are not accepted and must be disposed of through other means. Below are verified options for donating or disposing of mattresses in the Austin area.
Charities and non‑profits
| Organization | Donation/acceptance policy (short notes) | Contact / pickup details |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Marianella (immigrant shelter) | Accepts twin, full or queen mattresses in good condition. Donors must email the shelter with photos to confirm current needs and storage capacity; they will schedule a pickup when possiblecasamarianella.org. | Email casadonations@casamarianella.org with photos and a description of the mattresscasamarianella.org. If accepted, staff will arrange pickup. (Phone: 512‑385‑5571). |
| Salvation Army – Austin Area Family Stores | Accepts mattresses only if they are free of rips, stains or tears; drivers will refuse items that are not resalablesalvationarmyaustin.org. Stained or torn mattresses, waterbed frames/mattresses and other unsellable items are on the not‑accepted listsalvationarmyaustin.org. | Schedule a free pickup by calling 512‑416‑0607 or 1‑800‑SA‑TRUCK (satruck.org). When scheduling, list the number and type of items and your zip codesalvationarmyaustin.org. |
| Goodwill Central Texas | Does not accept mattresses, box springs or pull‑out couchesgoodwillcentraltexas.org. They accept other furniture (chairs, tables, etc.) but explicitly list mattresses as a prohibited itemgoodwillcentraltexas.org. | For other items, drop off at a donation site or schedule a pickup through ReSupply (fees apply). |
| Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Austin Habitat) | Does not accept used mattresses or box springs. Their donation guidelines list mattresses among items the store cannot acceptaustinhabitat.org. | Schedule a donation pickup for other large items via their online form (re‑store.vonigo.com). |
| Hope Family Thrift Store (Austin Disaster Relief Network) | Does not accept mattresses, particularly when they are worn, torn or stainedhopefamilythrift.org. They accept smaller furniture, clothing and housewareshopefamilythrift.org. | Drop off donations at 13801 Burnet Rd., Suite 200 Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. For questions call 512‑467‑4940hopefamilythrift.org. |
| Goodwill/Salvation Army alternatives from local guides | Many local charities will not accept mattresses due to health regulations. A local waste‑reduction blog notes that mattresses must be in “pristine condition” with no stains, tears or excessive wear to be considered for donationalittlemore.green. In general, check with the charity first and provide photos; otherwise, use the City’s bulk pickup or specialized recyclers. | The blog recommends calling Hope Family Thrift Store, Salvation Army, Goodwill or veteran organizations for large items that meet their condition requirementsalittlemore.green. It also links to the Austin Reuse Directory to find local groups that might accept mattresses in very good conditionalittlemore.green. |
Mattress disposal and recycling
- City of Austin On‑Demand Bulk Collection – Austin Resource Recovery provides three free bulk‑item collections per household each year. Items accepted include furniture such as mattressesaustintexas.gov. Residents must schedule an appointment using the Austin Recycles app, through the online form or by calling 3‑1‑1. On the appointment date, mattresses should be placed at the curb by 5:30 a.m. and separated into the appropriate pile (metal vs. non‑metal)austintexas.gov. This service is for disposal only; collected mattresses are not recycled or donatedaustintexas.gov.
- Professional removal/recycling services – Private companies (e.g., Ex‑Mattress, 1‑800‑GOT‑JUNK, Junkdrop Austin) offer fee‑based pickup and either recycle mattresses or donate them when possible. These services can be used when donation charities will not accept a mattress due to stains or wear. Because they operate commercially, check current pricing and make sure the company recycles rather than sending mattresses to the landfill.
Key considerations
- Condition matters: All organizations that accept mattresses require them to be clean and free of stains, tears, odors and bed bugs. Some may request photos before agreeing to accept the itemalittlemore.greencasamarianella.org. Worn, torn or soiled mattresses are generally not accepted and must be disposed of.
- Size and storage: Casa Marianella specifies acceptance of twin, full or queen mattresses. King‑size mattresses are harder to place; contact the organization before donating.
- Schedule pickups in advance: Salvation Army, Casa Marianella and Habitat ReStore require appointments. Pickups may be limited, so call ahead.
- On‑demand disposal vs. donation: If a mattress cannot be donated, schedule an on‑demand bulk collection through Austin Resource Recovery or hire a commercial removal service. Placing a mattress out during regular trash collection is not allowed, and illegal dumping can incur fines.
Conclusion
Austin residents have limited but viable options for donating mattresses. Non‑profits such as Casa Marianella and Salvation Army will accept mattresses in very good condition and offer pickup when contacted in advancecasamarianella.orgsalvationarmyaustin.org. Goodwill, Habitat ReStore and Hope Family Thrift Store do not accept mattressesgoodwillcentraltexas.orgaustinhabitat.orghopefamilythrift.org. For mattresses that cannot be donated, the City’s on‑demand bulk collection provides a free disposal optionaustintexas.gov. Residents should always check condition requirements and schedule pickups ahead of time.
