Throwing out an old mattress set?

Mattress and box spring pickup program begins August 1.

Spanish translation here | En Espanol aqui

Download the informational flyer here

Beginning August 1, Providence residents and property owners will be required to pay a $20 disposal fee for each mattress or box spring they throw away. Mayor Taveras announced the initiative during his budget address in February, and it is modeled on mattress/box spring disposal programs in other cities.

Property owners will be fined $50 to $500 for mattresses and box springs that are placed on the curb in front of their property without a scheduled pick-up.

Throwing away old mattresses and box springs is easy: Just call Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545. English and Spanish-speaking customer service representatives are available from Monday to Friday, 8AM - 5PM to process mattress/box spring disposal requests and schedule curbside pickup on your next regular collection day. Call before 3pm, at least 24 hours prior to your collection day, to schedule a pickup. Payment can be made by either check or credit/debit card.

Providence residents can avoid the $20 fee by disposing of mattresses/box springs directly at the Department of Public Works' facility at 700 Allens Avenue on Thursdays from 3-7PM and Saturdays from 7AM-1PM. Residents dropping off mattresses/box springs will be required to provide proof of Providence residency. Drop-offs are limited to two mattresses/box springs per resident.

Each year thousands of people dump mattresses and box springs on the sidewalk in Providence when they move or buy new ones, and their disposal comes with a surprisingly high price tag that the city simply can no longer afford. Last year alone, 19,000 mattresses were collected throughout the city, costing Providence's taxpayers $513,000.

Bulky trash items and white goods will still be picked-up free of charge by calling 1-800-972-4545.