Quick answer
A mattress cannot go in your wheelie bin. If you can get it outside, a council bulky collection or a tip run is worth checking first; if you are buying new, ask the retailer to take the old one. For a mattress stuck upstairs or several beds in Eastbourne, a private collection is easier.
Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance
A mattress is too bulky for a wheelie bin, so the real choices for Eastbourne households are a council bulky collection, a trip to the household waste recycling centre at St Philip's Avenue, retailer take-back when you buy a replacement, or a private collection. Council and tip rules change, so recheck the official pages before you book anything.
Eastbourne Council collection
Best for: One mattress that you can get outside before collection day.
- Cost
- Check the council page for the current charge
- Timing
- Booked collection slot
- Booked through the council, so confirm mattresses are covered when you book
- Check the council page for where the mattress must be left
- You carry it out of the house yourself
Recycling centre
Best for: You have a car or van that a mattress will fit in.
- Cost
- No charge listed for mattresses
- Timing
- Booked slot required
- Eastbourne household waste recycling site, St Philip's Avenue, BN22 8NB
- Book a slot first; vans only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- A double mattress is awkward in a car - check it fits first
Private collection with Eastbourne Waste Collection
Best for: Mattresses still upstairs, several beds, or when it needs to go quickly.
- Cost
- Priced by item and access
- Timing
- Usually the same week
- We carry it down from any room - no lifting for you
- Bed frames, headboards and other furniture in the same visit
- Licensed disposal, with recycling wherever possible
Book a Eastbourne Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Eastbourne%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection
Eastbourne Council arranges bulky waste collections for residents, but we could not open its current bulky waste page to confirm the price for a mattress, the item limit per booking or exactly where items must be left. Rather than quote figures that may be out of date, we suggest you check the council's bulky waste page and booking form directly. Before you pay, confirm that a mattress is accepted, what it costs, and where and by what time it must be put out.
Whatever the council says, plan on carrying the mattress outside yourself. If that is not possible, a private collection is the simpler route.
Take it to the tip yourselfSection titled Take%20it%20to%20the%20tip%20yourself
The household waste recycling site serving Eastbourne is on St Philip's Avenue, BN22 8NB, run by East Sussex County Council. Its Eastbourne site page lists mattresses as accepted and does not list a charge for them; the charges it does list apply to items such as bonded asbestos, rubble, plasterboard, soil and tyres.
- Booking: every visit needs a booked slot. The county's booking page allows same-day bookings and up to two weeks ahead.
- Proof of residency: you may be asked for proof you live in East Sussex, such as a photocard driving licence, a current-year council tax bill or a recent utility or bank statement. Non-residents pay £8.75 a visit.
- Vans: vans can only visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, must be booked as a van, and van drivers need photo ID plus ID showing a home address. Full details are on the county's site rules page.
Opening hours and rules can change, so check the county pages before you set off.
Retailer take-back when you buy a new mattressSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20a%20new%20mattress
Some retailers will collect your old mattress when the new one is delivered. For example, Feather & Black's recycling service is added at checkout and charged at £40 for a single mattress and £60 for a double, king or super king. The crew collects the old mattress during the same visit as your delivery, and you need to strip the linen and seal it dry in the bag supplied.
Terms and prices vary by retailer and by order, so ask about take-back before you buy and check what the charge is for your size of bed.
Can you donate or sell an old mattress?Section titled Can%20you%20donate%20or%20sell%20an%20old%20mattress%3F
Reuse is possible only in limited cases. Age UK East Sussex's Eastbourne furniture warehouse and donation centre lists mattresses with fire labels among the items it can collect, and says collection is free. Call 01323 403111 to check whether your mattress qualifies before you rely on it.
The fire label matters because furniture supplied second-hand is covered by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, which include labelling rules and provisions for second-hand furniture. A mattress that is stained, damaged or has no label is unlikely to be reusable.
When a private collection makes senseSection titled When%20a%20private%20collection%20makes%20sense
Paying for a collection is worth it when the mattress is upstairs or in a flat, when there are several beds or a whole bedroom to clear, when nobody can lift it, or when you cannot wait for a council slot. Eastbourne Waste Collection carries the mattress out from any room and disposes of it through licensed routes.
Old mattress in the way?
We collect mattresses, bed frames and bedroom furniture across Eastbourne, carried out from any room, usually the same week.
Which route fits your situationSection titled Which%20route%20fits%20your%20situation
Match your situation
One mattress, already downstairs, no rush
Eastbourne Council collectionCheck the council page first for the current price and where to leave it.
You have a van or a big car
Recycling centreSt Philip's Avenue takes mattresses with no charge listed, but you must book a slot.
You are buying a new mattress anyway
Retailer take-backAsk at checkout - the old one can often leave on the same delivery.
It is upstairs, there are several, or it needs to go now
Private collectionOne visit covers carrying, loading and disposal.
Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions
Can I put a mattress in my wheelie bin in Eastbourne?Section titled Can%20I%20put%20a%20mattress%20in%20my%20wheelie%20bin%20in%20Eastbourne%3F
No. A mattress is far too large for a wheelie bin, so it needs one of the routes above. Check Eastbourne Council's current rules before leaving any bulky item out, as it may not be collected unless it has been booked.
Does the tip charge for mattresses?Section titled Does%20the%20tip%20charge%20for%20mattresses%3F
The county's Eastbourne site page lists mattresses as accepted and shows no charge for them. You do still need to book a slot, and the site rules explain the proof of residency and van rules.
What happens to a mattress after it is collected?Section titled What%20happens%20to%20a%20mattress%20after%20it%20is%20collected%3F
It depends on who collects it. Feather & Black says that for mattresses it takes back, natural fillings are cleaned and reused, steel springs are melted down and memory foam is turned into carpet underlay or sent for energy recovery, as described on its recycling page. Other routes vary, so ask your collector where the mattress ends up.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
Want it gone without the lifting?
Tell us what needs to go and we will give you a free, no-obligation quote for Eastbourne and nearby areas.