We have all seen them: old mattresses propped against railings or slumped in a back lane somewhere in Glasgow, getting soaked in the rain. Dumping a mattress is fly-tipping, and it is completely avoidable. In Glasgow you can take a mattress to a household waste recycling centre, ask your retailer to take the old one away when your new one is delivered, or have it collected by a registered waste carrier such as Jettison Express. This guide explains each option and how to get a mattress out of the house without a struggle.
Why mattresses are so awkward to get rid of
Mattresses are heavy, floppy and difficult to grip, which makes them hard work on a tenement close stair and almost impossible to fit in a small car. They will not go in a wheelie bin, and they take up a lot of room wherever they end up. Around 4.75 million mattresses a year in the UK go to landfill or incineration, according to the National Bed Federation.
That is a waste, because a mattress is mostly steel springs, foam and fabric. Specialist recyclers can strip mattresses down so that the metal and some of the fillings can be recovered. It is also worth knowing that mattresses are not covered by the Scottish rules on waste upholstered seating, which require sofas, armchairs and other upholstered seats to be incinerated rather than landfilled. A mattress can therefore go to recycling routes that a sofa cannot.
mattress disposal in Glasgow
Your options for mattress disposal in Glasgow
Household waste recycling centres
Glasgow's recycling centres at Dawsholm, Polmadie and Shieldhall accept mattresses from residents. They are open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week, and you do not need to book. Easter Queenslie closed for redevelopment from April 2026. A double mattress usually needs a van or a large car with the seats folded down, and vans are only accepted at Shieldhall and Dawsholm at set times.
Retailer take-back when you buy a new mattress
Many bed and mattress retailers offer to take away your old mattress when they deliver the new one, sometimes for an extra charge. This is a service rather than a legal right, so ask about it before you order and check that the retailer uses a proper disposal route. Have the old mattress stripped and ready to go so the swap takes minutes.
Passing on a mattress
Reuse is always worth considering, but mattresses are harder to pass on than most furniture. Many charity shops and furniture reuse projects do not accept used mattresses for hygiene reasons, so always ask first rather than dropping one off. A clean, nearly new mattress from a spare room might suit a friend or family member, or you can try Zero Waste Scotland's national reuse tool. A mattress that is stained, damp or torn should go for recycling, not to someone else's home.
Professional collection
If you cannot move the mattress yourself, have no car big enough or live in a high-rise flat, a professional collection is the easiest option. It is particularly handy when the mattress is part of a bigger clear-out. For a mattress, a bed frame or a few other large items on their own, book a bulky uplift.
Never leave a mattress in the street
Leaving a mattress on the pavement, in a lane or beside the bins is fly-tipping. In Scotland, the fixed penalty is £500, and on conviction the fine can reach £40,000. Your duty of care also means you must only hand your waste to an authorised person, such as a waste carrier registered with SEPA. If you pay someone who is not authorised and your mattress turns up dumped, you can be held responsible. Check any collector on SEPA's public register before you hand anything over. Landlords and property managers dealing with mattresses dumped beside their buildings will find practical advice in our fly-tipping prevention tips.
Tips for getting a mattress out of the house
- Strip it and cover it. Remove all bedding, then wrap the mattress in a mattress bag or plastic sheet. It keeps it clean, gives you something to grip and protects the walls.
- Use two people. Carry it on its side rather than flat, which is easier on stairs and through doorways.
- Measure tight turns. Check the corners on your close stair or landing. Do not force a sprung mattress round a bend it will not fit, as the springs can break through the cover.
- Dismantle the bed frame first. Keep bolts and fittings in a bag taped to the frame if it is going to someone else.
- Clear the route. Move shoes, rugs and anything else you could trip over between the bedroom and the front door.
Mattresses from rented and inherited homes
Old mattresses are often left behind at the end of a tenancy, and they usually need to go when a family is clearing the home of someone who has died. Landlords and letting agents can use our void property clearance service to get a flat ready for the next tenant, and families can include every bed, mattress and frame in a full house clearance in Glasgow.
How Jettison Express can help
Jettison Express collects mattresses across Glasgow and the surrounding towns, either on their own through our rubbish clearance service or as part of a larger job. Our friendly, uniformed team will call ahead, dismantle bed frames, carry everything out and leave the room swept and tidy. You get an up-front rate before we start and paperwork once the job is complete. Everything goes back to our depot to be sorted, and we recycle over 90% of what we collect. You can read more about what happens to your unwanted items after they leave your home, and if you are replacing your flooring at the same time, our Glasgow carpet disposal guide covers old carpet and underlay.
To arrange a mattress collection, contact Jettison Express or call 0333 880 6800, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a mattress to a Glasgow recycling centre?
Yes, if you are a Glasgow resident. The recycling centres at Dawsholm, Polmadie and Shieldhall accept mattresses, are open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week, and need no booking. A double mattress usually needs a van or a large car, and vans are only accepted at Shieldhall and Dawsholm at set times.
Can I take a mattress to the tip in Glasgow?
Yes. Glasgow's household waste recycling centres at Dawsholm, Polmadie and Shieldhall accept mattresses from residents. They are open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week, with no booking needed. Easter Queenslie closed for redevelopment from April 2026. If you are bringing a van, note that vans are only accepted at Shieldhall and Dawsholm at set times.
Can I donate my old mattress to charity?
Sometimes, but many charity shops and furniture reuse projects do not accept used mattresses for hygiene reasons, so always ask before dropping one off. A clean, nearly new mattress may suit a friend or family member, or you can try Zero Waste Scotland's national reuse tool. Stained, damp or damaged mattresses should go for recycling instead.
Do mattresses have to be incinerated like sofas?
No. In Scotland, waste upholstered seating such as sofas, sofa beds and armchairs may contain persistent organic pollutants and must be incinerated rather than landfilled. Mattresses are not part of that rule, so they can go to recycling routes where the springs and some of the fillings are recovered.