Egg crate mattress pads, memory foam toppers, and other foam bedding shouldn’t go in your curbside recycling bin. However, you still have other options besides sending them to a landfill. With a little effort, you can find ways to reuse these materials or make sure they’re recycled correctly.

Most foam mattress pads are made from polyurethane foam, a synthetic material that most city recycling programs can’t handle. According to the American Chemistry Council, U.S. manufacturers make 300 million pounds of polyurethane foam each year just for mattresses, and toppers add even more.

The main challenge with recycling foam is cost and logistics. Foam can be shredded and reused for things like carpet padding or car seats, but breaking it down takes a lot of work, so making new foam is usually cheaper. Unlike metal springs in regular mattresses, foam toppers don’t have valuable materials that make them attractive to recyclers.

Memory foam is especially concerning for the environment when it ends up in a landfill. As it breaks down, foam can release chemicals like VOCs and flame retardants that may pollute soil and water. A foam topper can take 50 to 100 years to decompose in a landfill.

Reuse First: Donation Options

If your foam mattress pad is still in good shape, with no major stains, smells, or damage, donating it may give it a second life and keep it out of the landfill.

• Local shelters: Homeless and domestic violence shelters often accept clean bedding. Call ahead to confirm their current needs and acceptance policies.
• Animal rescue facilities: Many animal shelters and rescue organizations welcome foam padding for kennels and pet beds.
• Thrift stores: Some accept mattress toppers, but policies vary by store. Check with your local Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, or independent thrift shops before you drop anything off. Most Goodwill locations do not take these items.
• Community sharing: You can post your topper for free on Freecycle, your local Buy Nothing group, or Facebook Marketplace. Someone in your area might need it.

Always check that a location will accept your item before you visit, and make sure anything you donate is actually usable.

Recycling Options by State

Four states have mattress recycling laws with programs run by the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC). These programs mainly cover full mattresses and box springs, but some places may also take foam toppers. Check with your local drop-off site to be sure.

California: The Bye Bye Mattress program offers more than 240 free drop-off locations across the state. Over 99% of California residents live within 15 miles of a recycling location. Retailers who deliver a new mattress must also offer free pickup of your old one.

Connecticut: The first state to launch mattress recycling in 2015, Connecticut has 157 participating municipalities. Find drop-off locations through the Bye Bye Mattress website.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island’s program provides collection sites and events throughout the state. Visit Bye Bye Mattress to find locations.

Oregon: This state-sponsored program launched in January 2025. Collection sites are available in every county. A $22.50 fee included with every new mattress purchase funds the program.

National Recycling Resources

Use the Earth911 recycling search to find centers near you that take foam, bedding, or large items. Try searching for “foam,” “mattress,” or “polyurethane” with your zip code. Not every facility accepts mattress toppers, so call first to check.

Textile Recycling Programs

Some curbside textile recycling services will take bedding materials. Simple Recycling offers free pickup programs in many cities. Check if your area is included and if mattress pads are accepted.

Hard-to-Recycle Centers

Many communities have special collection centers for items that can’t go in regular recycling. These are sometimes called CHaRM Centers, household hazardous waste sites, or eco-stations, and they often take foam and bulky bedding. Look up your local waste management website for details.

Junk Removal Services

If local recycling isn’t an option, junk removal companies can help. Many of them try to recycle or donate items to avoid landfill fees, so they can be a good choice for foam mattress pads.

• 1-800-GOT-JUNK operates nationwide and, when possible, recycles mattress foam into carpet padding, pet bedding, and other products.
• LoadUp works with local recycling and donation centers to divert materials from landfills.
• College HUNKS Hauling Junk emphasizes eco-friendly disposal.
• A Bedder World specializes in mattress and bedding recycling, operating in multiple states with a focus on material recovery.

Prices depend on where you live and how much you need to get rid of. Get quotes from a few companies and ask them about their recycling methods.

DIY Repurposing Ideas

Before you throw away your foam mattress pad, think about whether you could use it for something else:

• Pet beds: Cut foam to size and slip it into a washable cover for a comfortable dog or cat bed.
• Seat cushions: Repurpose sections as padding for patio furniture, dining chairs, or workshop seating.
• Packing material: Cut into smaller pieces and use as cushioning when shipping fragile items.
• Garden kneeling pad: A foam section makes outdoor work more comfortable.
• Camping comfort: Use foam under sleeping bags for extra cushioning in tents or RVs.
• Soundproofing: Egg crate foam is sometimes used in DIY acoustic panels for home studios or workshops.
• Bean bag filler: Shred foam and use it to restuff a sagging bean bag chair.

These ideas may not suit everyone, but finding new uses for foam helps keep it out of landfills for longer.

Municipal Waste Options

If you can’t recycle or donate your foam pad, ask your local waste management service how to dispose of it properly:

• Bulky waste pickup: Many municipalities offer scheduled pickup for large items that don’t fit in regular trash. Foam mattress pads often qualify.
• Transfer station drop-off: Your local landfill or transfer station may accept bedding materials during specific hours or at designated areas.
• Break it down: If you have to throw your topper out with regular trash, cutting it into smaller pieces can make it easier to bag and handle, following your local rules.

Check with your city’s waste department to learn the rules before putting foam items out for pickup.

Manufacturer Take-Back Programs

True end-of-life take-back programs for mattress toppers are still rare in the industry, which is problematic given the environmental issues associated with foam disposal. Still, some brands are more responsible with returns, so it’s worth reaching out to the store where you bought your topper.

Avocado Green Mattress donates 100% of mattress topper and pillow returns to their network of more than 1,000 nonprofit partners, including shelters, refugee centers, and rehabilitation facilities. This applies during their sleep trial period (up to one year for mattresses, 100 nights for select toppers). When donation isn’t possible in your area, Avocado works with recycling partners to responsibly handle the material.

Sleep On Latex takes an interesting approach—they sell topper returns to a local mattress refurbishing company that incorporates the material into refurbished mattresses, keeping the foam in the product lifecycle rather than sending it to landfills.

Saatva offers a 180-night home trial on mattress toppers and asks that customers wash used toppers before returning them. Returned bedding items are donated to local charities, ensuring toppers in good condition find new homes rather than going to waste.

Tempur-Pedic recycles returned mattresses into carpet padding and other materials. However, their return policy is limited—they only accept returns for items damaged at delivery or with product defects.

If you bought your topper from a premium or “eco-friendly” brand, contact their customer service to ask about recycling or disposal options—hold them to their promise to minimize waste. Even if they don’t have a take-back program, they might know local partners who can help. Some stores also offer removal when you buy a new topper.

If your topper is made from organic latex, wool, or cotton, it will break down naturally. Natural latex can be recycled at special facilities or composted if the conditions are right. Wool and cotton toppers might be accepted by textile recycling programs or could go in your home compost. Ask the manufacturer if any chemical treatments could affect composting.

The Bottom Line On Mattress Pads

Foam mattress pads are harder to recycle than most household items, but you do have options. If your pad is still in good shape, try donating it first. You can also look into state programs, local recycling centers, or junk removal services. If nothing else works, your city’s bulky waste program can handle it.

Every foam pad you keep out of the landfill means fewer chemicals in the ground and less pressure on landfill space. Your extra effort helps the environment.