Ultimate Guide to Mattress Disposal in New Zealand: Options, Costs and Regulations

Sleep. Ensuring we get enough of it is critical for our health and well-being. According to Health New Zealand, getting enough quality sleep is important for healthy brain function and physical health. For children and teenagers, it’s essential for growth and development.

We’re all familiar with how terrible we feel after a poor night’s sleep – grouchy, run down, forgetful. In the short term, not getting enough sleep can affect our thinking, memory and mood. Longer term, poor sleep can affect our mental health and even increase the risk of certain health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.

While there are numerous factors that influence our sleep quality, investing in a mattress that meets your needs is a key piece of the puzzle. 

Many Kiwis aren’t aware that the lifespan of a typical mattress is 8-10 years, with 16% of us owning a mattress that’s past its best before date.

If you’re still sleeping on an old, lumpy mattress, it may be time to retire it. Your joints, not to mention your general health and wellbeing, will thank you for it.

If this is you, you may now be scratching your head wondering how to dispose of your mattress. Discarding an old mattress can be tricky. They’re big, they’re bulky, and they can’t be included in your standard council rubbish collection.

We get it. At Ezy Peazy, we know how much of a headache mattress disposal can be. That’s why we’ve built a network of trusted professionals who provide comprehensive household removal services to help make your life easier!

Keep reading for our ‘Ultimate Guide to Mattress Disposal in New Zealand’ - giving you a full run down on mattress disposal options, costs and regulations across the country.

Option 1: Dumping

“Where can I dump a mattress?”  is a common search query with a couple hundred Kiwis consulting Google with this very question each year. A quick glance at Reddit also confirms this is a familiar dilemma – with many suggesting rather creative solutions (such as cutting your mattress into small pieces and then disposing of a small portion in your general waste each week).

Consequences of Illegal Dumping in New Zealand

There are two ways to dump a mattress: legally and illegally. At Ezy Peazy – we strongly recommend taking the legal route!

While it’s common to see old mattresses sitting on the roadside across the country, this actually constitutes illegal dumping in New Zealand; both the berm and footpath outside your property are public council land.

As the Auckland Council website states “illegal rubbish dumping is any rubbish dumped on public property.”

In addition, anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish will not only be required to remove the rubbish – they may also be issued with a fine of up to $400. That’s an expensive way to discard an old mattress!

As well as dumping on public land being illegal, it’s bad for the environment, a surefire way to get offside with your neighbours – and it’s just plain unsightly!

Cost: If you don’t get caught: free. However, illegally dumping your mattress is irresponsible and could cost you up to $400 in fines.

Taking Your Old Mattress to a Refuse Station

Now for the legal option: disposing of your old mattress at a refuse station.
If your mattress is unable to be reused, recycled or donated – perhaps it's permanently stained, infested with pests (such as bedbugs, lice or fleas), or the springs are broken – your best bet may be to take it to one of the many refuse stations across New Zealand.

However, we’d recommend taking some time to carefully consider adding your mattress to New Zealand’s growing landfill. According to Stuff, “the dump has become a mattress wasteland with around 300,000 ending up in New Zealand’s landfills every year.”
As well as being difficult to compact, and a potential clogging risk for landfill machinery, this is a huge environmental issue. Because mattresses are typically made up of lots of different inorganic parts, they can take up to 100 years to break down in landfill. By burying our mattresses in the ground, they’re living on far longer than we do!

Luckily, there are now responsible mattress disposal options in New Zealand, such as recycling. Although mattress recycling options in New Zealand are still few and far between – this is worth looking into, particularly if you’re concerned about minimising your impact on the environment.

Cost: If you don’t have a large enough vehicle or trailer or roof racks and tie-downs, you’ll need to hire the necessary equipment to transport your mattress. Then, once you’ve got your mattress to your nearest refuse station, you’ll need to pay user charges. These are typically based on the weight of your load.

Option 2: Mattress Recycling

Up until recently, mattress recycling wasn’t an option in New Zealand, however the tide appears to be turning, and recycling schemes are popping up around the country.
They’ve had mixed results, however – and we’re still lagging far behind our trans-Tasman neighbours in Australia.

According to The Spinoff, the Waitākere Refuse & Recycling Centre tried mattress recycling for a time, only to abandon it.
A mattress recycling trial in Timaru operating out of the Redruth Resource Recovery Centre also initially had lofty goals, however, at the time of writing, it’s unclear whether the program still exists. 
Not all hope is lost, though – and if you want to minimize your environmental footprint (something we wholeheartedly encourage), below are a few options to consider:

1. Andoo
In 2022, retailer Andoo teamed up with charitable trust All Heart NZ to trial a mattress recycling programme. They found they were able to recycle up to 77% of mattress materials (such as springs, cotton, and foam), keeping a significant amount of waste out of landfill.  Their efforts are still going strong today, and Andoo offers mattress recycling and repurposing options to customers in Auckland, Hamilton, Whangārei, Tauranga, and Mount Maunganui.

2. Auckland Council Community Recycling Centres
If you live in New Zealand’s largest city, you’re in luck. There are a number of options for responsible mattress disposal in Auckland – including its network of community recycling centres. Each community recycling centre differs in terms of what they’ll accept. Sites including Helensville, Henderson, Tāmaki and Wairau take mattresses for recycling – although some stipulate that these must be in near-new condition.

3. Comfi
Comfi is another business that has teamed up with All Heart NZ to recycle used mattresses. This option is available for Comfi customers based in Auckland via a tick box option at checkout.  Simply tick “old mattress removal for recycle” and they’ll take care of the rest.

4. Ecodrop
For those based in Christchurch, some of EcoDrop’s resource recovery centres take unwanted mattresses for recycle. There are three sites at Bromley, Redwood and Wigram. If you’re unsure whether you can take your mattress to a particular site, just give them a call beforehand to check.

5. Sleepyhead Zero
Sleepyhead’s Zero mattress is New Zealand’s first environmentally friendly recyclable mattress. At the end of its life, the mattress can be returned to the store where it was bought where it will be transformed into carpet underlay. Of course, this option is only available if you already have a Sleepyhead Zero mattress!

6. DIY Mattress Recycling
If you have the time on your hands – plus a good dose of motivation – you could try breaking down your old mattress for recycling yourself. First, remove the outer fabric and foam layers, then cut the springs and frame into smaller pieces. Many resource recovery centres will take components like foam for recycling and springs for scrap metal. Keep in mind, this can be messy, and the springs can prove hazardous. Take care and wear protective gear, such as gloves and eyewear.

Cost: Some of these recycling schemes require you to have bought an item first before they’ll pick up your old mattress, while some community recycling centres will take your old mattress free of charge. If you’re needing to drop your mattress off at a recycling centre you’ll need to hire a van or trailer if you don’t have your own means of transportation. 

Option 3: Donate Your Unwanted Mattress to Charity

Is your mattress still in good nick? If it’s free of stains, odour, dust, rips and pest infestation and you’ve only had it a few years, someone else may be able to get some more life out of it. A brand-new mattress isn’t cheap – and purchasing one is out of reach for many Kiwi families, particularly at the moment with our rising cost of living.

Before you throw your mattress away or break it down to recycle the parts, consider donating it to a worthy charitable cause. There are a number of charities across the country who take in mattresses that they can then sell in their op shops. This is a wonderful way to get your old mattress off your hands while giving back.

Below are some charitable organisations in New Zealand that may be able to accept your mattress for donation.

Note: Please call or email ahead first to check before attempting to donate your old mattress. Some charity stores are quite small and may not have room for your bulky California king mattress. Additionally, many have strict hygiene regulations and will only take mattresses that are in near pristine condition. Whatever you do, please don’t dump your old mattress on the doorstep of your local charity and shift the problem! Dealing with poor quality items costs charities precious time and resources, diverting them from their important work.

• Auckland City Mission
  Location: Op shops at three locations: Karangahape Road, Symonds St, and Glen Innes.
  Items they accept: The Auckland City Mission has limited space available but is able to take some household furnishings. Please contact them if you have a good quality mattress to donate.
  Email: retail@aucklandcitymission.org.nz
  Phone: 02718100047
   
• Christchurch City Mission
  Location: Op shops at various locations, including the city centre, Sydenham, Rangiora, and Bryndwr.
  Items they accept: The Christchurch City Mission accepts donations of good quality household items at their op shops. For donations of bigger items, it pays to check first.
  Email: opshop@citymission.org.nz
  Phone: 03 365 0633
   
• Habitat for Humanity New Zealand
  Location:  Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Op Shops are located across the country from Whangārei to Invercargill.
  Items they accept: Habitat ReStores take donations of good quality pre-loved furniture and household goods. Potential donors can contact the relevant ReStore to arrange a collection and to check whether their item can be taken in.
  Contact details: Contact details for each ReStore are available via this link.
   
• Hato Hone St John
  Location: Op shops located at over 50 sites across the North and South Island.
  Items they accept: No specific information is available online. We’d recommend checking ahead with your local store.
  Contact details: Contact details for each location can be found via this link.
   
• Hospice New Zealand
  Location: There are numerous Hospice Shops across New Zealand
  Items they accept: Varies according to location. We’d recommend checking ahead.   
  Contact details: Contact details for each store can be found via this link.
   
• New Zealand Red Cross
  Location: Op shops are located across the country
  Items they accept: The New Zealand Red Cross accepts a range of items, including furniture. Call or email ahead to check whether your local store can take your mattress.
  Contact details: Contact details for each store can be found here.
   
• SPCA
  Location: SPCA op shops can be found across New Zealand  
  Items they accept: Some stores accept bulky items like furniture. Contact your nearest store to check whether they can take your mattress.
  Contact details: Contact details for each op shop can be found here.
   
• The Salvation Army
  Location: Salvation Army Family Stores can be found all over New Zealand
  Items they accept: Many family stores accept furniture and household items. Contact your local store for further information.
  Contact details: Contact details for each store can be found here. 

If you’re unable to find a charity op shop that can take your mattress off your hands – consider whether there is a friend or family member in your life who could benefit. Maybe a niece or nephew is recently married and is setting up their new home, or a grandchild is moving into their first student flat. If your mattress is in reasonable condition and still has life left in it, gifting it to a family member is both kind to your loved ones and the environment.

Cost: Several charitable organisations such as the New Zealand Red Cross, the Christchurch City Mission, and Habitat for Humanity can pick up your donated items for free. If this option isn’t available at your chosen charity, costs could include trailer or vehicle hire if you don’t have your own.

Option 4: Book an Inorganic Rubbish Collection

While some cities have discontinued their inorganic rubbish collections - and the Auckland collection is much more scaled back than it used to be - booking your own collection can be a great option for getting rid of items that can’t be included in your general waste. In fact, your items don’t even have to be considered waste items. Inorganic collections can be used for recycling, too! This is a great option for mattress disposal in Auckland in particular.

As the Auckland Council states, “reusable or repairable items recovered from inorganic collections are currently provided to local community recycling centres, as well as charities who can register to receive items.”

One factor to keep in mind is that collections, in Auckland at least, can only be scheduled at certain times. The council releases a schedule each year which indicates the collection period for each suburb. Once you’ve found your collection dates, you can then make an online booking up until eight days before the collection period begins.

So - for this mattress disposal option, it’s really a case of right place, right time. If you need to get your old mattress off your hands as soon as possible, booking an inorganic collection might not be ideal – especially if it means waiting several months for your collection window to roll around.  
If you live outside of Auckland, you can consult the Citizens Advice Bureau to find out whether inorganic collections are available in your town.

Cost: In most cases inorganic collections are free! In Auckland inorganic rubbish collections are funded by the Waste Management Targeted Rate paid by property owners.

Option 5: Sell Your Old Mattress Online

Rather than your mattress being past its use-by date, perhaps you’ve bought a new bed frame, have moved house or you’re just wanting to upgrade to a more upmarket model. If your mattress is still in good condition, selling it online and earning some cash can be a great option
There are a few different options for selling online – the main two being Facebook Marketplace and Trade Me.

Staying cyber-safe: While many Kiwis sell items online without issue every day, there are also unfortunately reports of scams. Before you opt to sell your old mattress online, it pays to read up on common scams and how to avoid them.

List Your Unwanted Mattress on Trade Me

A household name in New Zealand, Trade Me is a great way to sell off all sorts of items – from furniture to cars and homes.

It’s also a particularly popular option for selling mattresses. A quick scan of used mattresses listed on Trade Me will give you a good feel of what others typically charge. You could even take a cue from the listing pictured below and have your pet pose with your pre-loved mattress. It could be the point of difference you need to stand out from the crowd…or it could quickly turn off buyers who have pet allergies!

If you’re not interested in earning much from your sale, you can set the starting price as low as $1 and arrange for the buyer to come and pick up the mattress from you directly.

If your mattress is in near-new condition and you’d like to recoup some of what you originally forked out, you can set a higher price. This has the added benefit of ensuring the buyer has a vested interest in following through on the sale and deters time wasters.

Cost: On Trade Me 7.9% of the sale value is charged as a success fee. There may be other additional charges that you may or may not need to pay depending on how you configure your listing.  

Find a Buyer on Facebook

According to Meta, there are more than 2.5 million Kiwis active on Facebook every month. Of this number, 2 million use Facebook every single day.

That’s a huge number of potential buyers right at your fingertips!

When it comes to selling on Facebook, there’s a couple of options at your disposal – Facebook Marketplace and local buy and sell pages.

Like Trade Me, you can create a listing on Facebook Marketplace which potential buyers can browse through. Unlike Trade Me, there are no success fees on Facebook Marketplace, making this a hugely popular option across the globe. Posting good quality photos, setting a reasonable price and writing a compelling description can help a great deal when it comes to attracting buyers.

Another, more informal option, is to create a post and share it in one of your local buy and sell groups. These have popped up all over New Zealand over the past few years – so it’s highly likely there’s one or two in your neighbourhood.

If you’re not already a member of your local buy/sell group, you’ll need to request to join. Once your request has been approved, you can then post the details of your pre-loved mattress, including a preferred price and some images.

Like Facebook Marketplace, there are no success fees when selling items via a Facebook group – and you’ll need to take care of the logistics yourself, such as contacting the buyer, ensuring payment is completed, and arranging pick up or delivery.

If you’re not interested in charging for your pre-loved mattress, you can also use Facebook buy and sell groups to advertise items for free. A lot of Facebook users opt for this, on the condition that the new owner picks the item up at their own expense.

Cost: Most of the time – free! Unless you’re opting to transport the mattress to its new owner yourself, selling used items via Facebook is typically a low or no-cost option. Depending on how much you make, it could even be cash-positive!

Option 6: Return Your Mattress to the Manufacturer

Depending on the age of your mattress, some suppliers offer warranties which guarantee that you can return your mattress when you no longer want it anymore. Check with the manufacturer or store you purchased your mattress from to see if this is an option for you.

Cost: Some manufacturers will pick the old mattress up from you either free-of-charge or for a small fee.

Option 7: Book a Stress-Free Mattress Removal with Ezy Peazy

Need help with mattress removal? Ezy Peazy has you covered!

Whether you’ve decided you’re going to dispose of your old mattress at a refuse station, donate it to charity, take it to a community recycling centre or you’ve found a buyer – there will likely come a time where it needs to be transported.

For this, you’ll either need a big enough vehicle, a trailer, or roof racks and tie-downs.
If you’re stuck without the necessary tools and equipment, no worries. Our extensive network of reliable taskers includes expert mattress removalists who specialise in low-cost mattress pick up, removal and disposal.

Booking a local tasker via our platform is easy. Simply post your mattress removal job, include all the relevant details – such as your preferred time frame, price and location - then sit back and relax while you wait for offers to roll in. Once you’ve selected your tasker for the job, they’ll take care of the hard work for you, whether that includes taking your mattress down to your local charity op shop, dropping it off at a Trade Me buyer’s house or delivering it to a community recycling centre.

With Ezy Peazy, it’s simple, safe and efficient. Not only is posting a job free, but the taskers you hire are professional, trusted and reliable, Plus, we won’t release your payment until your mattress removal job is completed to your full satisfaction.

If you need help with easy mattress removal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Ezy Peazy today.
You can even ask for quotes from taskers based in your city. Check out our network of professional mattress removalists in Auckland, for example.

Don’t worry, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and Tauranga – there are local taskers in your areas, too!

Cost: While listing your mattress for free on Facebook Marketplace or booking an inorganic rubbish collection will certainly save you some cash, booking a tasker via Ezy Peazy will save you a world of hassle and stress. From picking up your old mattress to taking it to where it needs to go, they’ll take care of the whole job end-to-end, meaning you don’t have to lift a finger.

Frequently Asked Questions About Old Mattress Disposal

Q. How much does mattress disposal cost in New Zealand
A. The cost of disposing of your mattress depends on several factors, including its age and condition and whether you’re able to sell, donate or recycle it. If your mattress isn’t fit for sale, reuse or recycle and your only option is landfill or disposal, you’ll need to pay a fee to take it to your local landfill. Price varies by location and is based on the weight of your load – for instance a king-sized mattress is heavier than a single mattress and will therefore be more expensive to take to a refuse station. Inorganic rubbish collections are often free, but these are restricted to certain times of the year and aren’t available across the country. If you’re donating or recycling your unwanted mattress, this will often be a low or no-cost option, unless you need to hire a trailer, van or roof racks or enlist the help of someone to transport your mattress for you. The only potential cash-positive option is selling your mattress (if it’s in decent condition).

Q. What is the cheapest way to get rid of a mattress in New Zealand?
A. Again, this largely depends on the age and condition of your mattress. If you strike it lucky and there happens to be an inorganic rubbish collection in your area at the time you’re disposing of your mattress, this is often a completely free option. Otherwise, listing your mattress on Facebook Marketplace, local buy and sell groups or Trade Me has the potential to be cash-positive if you’re able to negotiate a good price. If you can donate your mattress to charity, some charity op shops will provide free pick up, avoiding the need to hire a van, trailer, equipment or a removalist.

Q. What is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of an old mattress?
A. Any option which involves reuse or recycle will minimise environmental harm. This includes gifting your mattress to a family member or friend, taking it to a community recycling centre, breaking it down for recycling yourself and selling it to someone online.

Q. Can I recycle my old mattress in New Zealand?
A. Yes! While options for mattress recycling in New Zealand are still limited, there are recycling schemes popping up around the country. If you live in Auckland, there are more recycling options available to you, with several community recycling centres offering to take pre-loved mattresses off their owner’s hands.

Q. I’m moving house. Does Ezy Peazy provide mattress moving services too?
A. Yes! You’re in luck. At Ezy Peazy, we don’t just connect you with mattress removalists, we can connect you with professional house movers too. If you’re relocating, why not book a tasker who can help you move your mattress and bedframe to your new home?
That’s not all, either! Need help with moving items within your house? You can hire a tasker for that too. Whether it’s shifting a mattress from one room to another, dismantling and reassembling a bed frame or getting a bulky couch up a set of stairs, we can match you with a tasker who can help you with all your in-home furniture moving needs.

Choose Ezy Peazy for Your Next Mattress Removal Job!

Figuring out how to dispose of an old mattress can be a real conundrum. While not particularly heavy, mattresses are bulky and awkward to shift.  With our ‘Ultimate Guide to Mattress Disposal in New Zealand’ you now have a full run-down on all the various options available to you, including detailed pricing information and how to minimise your impact on the environment!

From donating your pre-loved mattress to charity, gifting it to a loved one, dropping it off at a community recycling centre for reuse, listing it for online sale or booking a professional removalist via Ezy Peazy, there’s a huge range of low-cost, eco-friendly options.

The first step is determining whether your old mattress is suitable for reuse or recycling or whether it’s truly past its expiry date. Whatever the case, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll need to transport your mattress somewhere.

That’s where we come in! If you need help with affordable, stress-free mattress pick-up, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Ezy Peazy today.

About Ezy Peazy

Ezy Peazy is an innovative platform that connects Kiwis with skilled taskers to help get things done. From household repairs and cleaning to creative projects and deliveries, Ezy Peazy makes it simple and straightforward to find trusted help for a wide range of jobs. Founded in 2019, our mission is to empower people to realise the value of their skills and connect them with others who need a helping hand. With transparent reviews, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly experience, Ezy Peazy is transforming the way tasks are completed—quickly, affordably, and reliably.