How to Dispose of a Mattress in Cape Girardeau, MO

Why mattresses are tricky

Mattresses are bulky, awkward to move, and can't be recycled curbside. They also take up a lot of truck volume relative to their weight. The good news: in Cape Girardeau you have several legitimate ways to get one gone, from free city programs to full-service pickup.

Option 1: City of Cape Girardeau bulk pickup (DIY, low cost)

If you're a City of Cape Girardeau trash customer, a mattress qualifies as a bulk item:

• Regular trash day: Set the mattress within 3 feet of the curb where your trash is collected, light enough for two people to move.
• Wednesday Special Pickup: For larger loads, schedule a Wednesday Special Pickup by calling (573) 339-6351 by 3 p.m. the Tuesday before. Every residential customer gets one free Special Pickup per calendar year.

This is the cheapest route if you can get the mattress to the curb yourself and your timing lines up with the schedule.

Option 2: Haul it to the Transfer Station (DIY)

You can take a mattress directly to the City Transfer Station at 2055 Corporate Circle (open weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Disposal is by weight at $90/ton with a $25 minimum charge as of 7/1/25, and remember loads must be secured/tarped or you'll be charged a $25 unsecured-load fee. For one mattress, the minimum charge usually applies.

Option 3: Donate (if it's clean and usable)

A gently used mattress in good, clean condition may be welcome at a local charity - but standards are strict. Many thrift operations decline mattresses for hygiene reasons, so call first. The Salvation Army Family Store in Cape Girardeau (416 Morgan Oak Ln, (573) 335-7548) accepts furniture donations; ask whether they can take your mattress. Never donate a mattress with stains, odors, sagging, or any sign of bed bugs - it will be rejected and end up as your problem again.

How to prep a mattress

• Wrap it in a plastic mattress bag or old sheets to keep it clean and contained.
• Vacuum it and let it air out if it's going to donation.
• Bend/fold a box spring at the seam only if you're throwing it away, not donating.
• Keep it dry - a rain-soaked mattress gets much heavier and harder to handle.

Can a mattress be recycled?

Mattresses are technically recyclable - the steel springs, foam, and wood frame can all be reclaimed - but there is no curbside mattress-recycling program in Cape Girardeau, and dedicated recycling facilities are limited in Southeast Missouri. For most residents the practical routes remain city bulk pickup, the transfer station, donation of a clean unit, or full-service haul-away. If keeping it out of the landfill matters to you, tell us and we'll do our best to route a still-usable mattress to a charity that will take it.

A word on bed bugs

If a mattress has any sign of bed bugs, do not donate it and do not drag it through common hallways in an apartment building - seal it in a mattress bag first to avoid spreading them. Label it clearly so handlers know. This protects everyone and keeps the item from being refused at donation.

Option 4: We haul it (the easy way)

If you can't lift it, don't have a truck, missed the city's pickup window, or just want it gone today, we'll do the whole job. Our crew carries the mattress and box spring out of any room, down any stairs, and hauls it away - loaded into our volume-based price with disposal included. Great for apartment move-outs, guest-room upgrades, and estate cleanouts. Call (573) 266-2040.