Changes Coming to Cambridge Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Collection Program

Since launching the mattress and box spring recycling collections program in 2019, the City of Cambridge and non-profit partner UTEC have helped residents recycle more than 35,000 mattresses and box springs, diverting more than 1,000 tons of material from landfills. The UTEC team manually deconstructs and extracts recyclable material from mattresses and box springs. In 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) banned mattresses and box springs from being disposed of in the trash, making recycling the required disposal method.

The continued success and growing use of the program, combined with increasing collection and recycling costs, have led the City to implement a cost-sharing model to help sustain this service while continuing to provide residents with a convenient recycling option.

Beginning July 20, 2026, residents who wish to schedule a mattress or box spring collection through UTEC will pay a portion of the collection and recycling cost, while the City will continue to subsidize the remainder. UTEC will charge $45 per mattress or box spring.

To schedule a collection through the City’s contractor, residents must schedule directly with UTEC at www.utecinc.org/mattress-recycling/.

Residents living in buildings with more than 12 units should check with their property manager for proper disposal and recycling procedures before scheduling a collection with UTEC.

This change aligns Cambridge with many neighboring communities that have implemented similar cost-sharing programs for mattress recycling services.

Visit www.CambridgeMA.Gov/Mattress for more info and other ways to dispose of a mattress.

To learn more about UTEC, a nonprofit organization serving proven-risk young adults, please visit www.utecinc.org