Lutz, FL
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When my old mattress started sagging in the middle like a hammock, I was more than ready to replace it. What I didn’t expect was how frustrating it would be to get rid of the thing.
At first, I figured I could just set it out on the curb with the trash. Easy, right? Wrong. It sat there untouched for two full pickup cycles, getting rained on, collecting gnats, and becoming a neighborhood eyesore. Eventually, I had to drag it back behind the house until I could figure out what to do with it.
That’s when I realized: you can’t just toss a mattress in Lutz like a regular bag of garbage. Between county rules, sanitation limitations, and environmental concerns, mattress disposal is way more complicated than it should be.
And I’m not alone. Every few weeks, I see another post on the neighborhood Facebook group from someone asking what to do with their old bed. So if you’re dealing with the same headache, keep reading, I’ll walk you through everything I wish I’d known from the start.
Once I realized my mattress wasn’t getting picked up with regular trash, I started digging into the county rules, and let me tell you, the fine print matters.
In Hillsborough County, mattress disposal falls under “bulky waste”, which means it isn’t collected during your standard curbside service unless you specifically request a pickup.
Here’s what I found out:
You get two free bulky waste pickups per year, but you have to schedule them in advance.
Each pickup can include up to 2 large items, like a mattress and box spring.
Items must be set out properly (nothing soaking wet, broken into pieces, or infested).
Requests must be made through the county’s solid waste department; you can’t just leave it on the curb and hope for the best.
You can schedule a pickup by calling (813) 272-5680 or visiting the official bulky waste disposal page.
Also important: if your mattress is severely damaged or soiled, they might refuse to collect it, even if you scheduled the pickup. That’s why it’s important to check the condition guidelines before assuming the county will take it.
So yes, the county can help, but only if you follow their system to the letter. Otherwise, your mattress becomes someone else’s problem (and your possible code violation).
After I missed the county’s bulky pickup window, I looked into hauling the mattress somewhere myself. Turns out, there are places near Lutz where you can drop off large items, but not all of them accept mattresses, and even fewer make it easy.
The main option is a Hillsborough County Solid Waste Transfer Station, like the Northwest Transfer Station at 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625, about 20 minutes from central Lutz.
Here’s what you’ll need if you go that route:
A valid photo ID
Proof of residency (like a recent utility bill)
A vehicle large enough to haul the mattress
A willingness to unload it yourself
And the kicker? You might still get turned away if the mattress is soiled, heavily damaged, or shows signs of bedbugs. They’re serious about that, and understandably so.
Some private landfills and disposal centers may accept mattresses for a fee (typically $20–$40), but you’ll want to call ahead. They often limit what types of mattresses they’ll take and may require you to wrap them in plastic.
Bottom line: dropping it off is doable, but it’s rarely simple, and if you’re trying to get it done quickly without ruining your car upholstery, it’s not the most convenient option.
At one point, I was this close to sneaking my old mattress into the nearest apartment complex dumpster. It was late, no one was around, and I just wanted the thing gone. But I stopped myself, and I’m glad I did.
Here’s why that would’ve been a huge mistake:
Dumping a mattress anywhere other than an approved site or scheduled pickup is considered illegal dumping. In Hillsborough County, that can mean fines of up to $500, more if it’s repeat or commercial dumping.
If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association or toss it behind a local business, someone’s going to report it. And if it’s traceable (old address labels, anyone?), you’re on the hook.
Mattresses are bulky and hard to crush. They jam up garbage trucks and compactors, which is why most landfills want them handled separately. That’s why even private dumpsters usually have signs that say “No Mattresses.”
The average mattress takes 80 to 120 years to break down in a landfill, and the materials inside, like polyurethane foam and metal springs, can release harmful toxins as they degrade.
So yeah, I didn’t go through with it. And if you’re considering it now, don’t. There are legal, smarter ways to dispose of a mattress, and I’ll show you what finally worked for me next.
After wasting a week trying to time a county pickup, calling drop-off centers, and even briefly considering dumpster roulette, I gave up on DIY mattress disposal. It just wasn’t worth the hassle.
What finally worked?
I scheduled a local mattress disposal pickup in Lutz that handled everything in one go. No back and forth with the county, no figuring out how to tie a mattress to my roof, and definitely no risking a code violation. They showed up, hauled it off without any drama, and that was the end of it.
Looking back, I probably spent more time researching how to not spend money than it would’ve cost to just handle it properly from the start.
If you’re in the same spot, the Mattress Disposal in Lutz, FL service page has a breakdown of what to expect and what kinds of items they’ll take. Whether you go with that or not, it’s a good reference if you’re weighing your options.
Mattresses aren’t the only thing that can trip you up when it comes to trash day. Lutz — and Hillsborough County in general — has some pretty specific rules about what can’t be left out with your regular garbage.
Here are a few bulky items that need special handling:
Box springs and bed frames
Old couches or recliners
Appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators
Tires or car parts
Hot tubs and large outdoor furniture
Televisions or large electronics
In most cases, these items require scheduling a bulky item pickup through the county or taking them to a transfer station yourself. If you leave them out without notice, they’ll be skipped, or worse, you might get a notice from the county or your HOA.
If you’re unsure what can and can’t go out with the trash, I recommend checking out the Junk Guyz in Lutz, FL. It lays out all the common disposal headaches, plus a few local resources to help you sort it all out.
You can schedule a bulky waste pickup through Hillsborough County by calling (813) 272-5680. Each household gets two free pickups per year, and mattresses are eligible, but you must book them in advance.
No, not if you’re using one of your two annual free pickups. If you’ve already used those or the mattress is in poor condition, you may need to take it to a disposal site or hire a private service.
Maybe, but only if it’s very gently used, clean, and has no stains, rips, or odors. Most donation centers in the area are strict about mattress conditions due to health concerns. Always call ahead before dropping one off.
Yes. Dumping mattresses in unauthorized areas — including behind businesses, apartment dumpsters, or vacant lots — is considered illegal dumping and can result in fines.
If you’re scheduling a county pickup or drop-off, wrap the mattress in plastic to protect workers and prevent contamination. Some facilities or services require this before they’ll accept it.
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