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You're in: California › San Mateo
City of San Mateo residents (Recology San Mateo County service)How to get rid of a mattress in San Mateo, CA
Fact-checked · Sourced · Dated Last verified Sources
San Mateo residents are allowed 2 on-call clean-ups per year, and each can include 1 large item such as a mattress.[1]
How do the official options compare?
| City or county option | Free or city fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress | Recology on-call clean-up | No additional charge, 2 per year |
Your town pickup (free)
The answer
To throw out a mattress in San Mateo: San Mateo residents are allowed 2 on-call clean-ups per year, and each can include 1 large item such as a mattress. How to book: Recology San Mateo County: (650) 595-3900. Bag required: No rule found.[1]
Independent guide, not a government website. Confirm with your city or the linked official source before acting; rules and fees change.
🗓️ Pickup schedule
By appointment Call Recology at (650) 595-3900 to schedule[1]
Source: Twice Yearly Clean-Up - San Mateo, CA · verified Oct 23, 2026. Exact days can depend on your address and holidays.
Step by step
- Book itRecology San Mateo County: (650) 595-3900[1]
- Prep itBag required: No rule found
- Set it out or drop it offSan Mateo residents are allowed 2 on-call clean-ups per year, and each can include 1 large item such as a mattress.[1]
- Confirm firstRules change. Check the official page.
Other free options
CITY City & county options
What does the City offer for a mattress in San Mateo?
Twice Yearly Clean-Up
Collections beyond the free pickups have a fee.[2]
Can I give it away or swap it in San Mateo?
We list local swap shops, groups and swap meets only after confirming their own page is active. None confirmed yet for San Mateo.
Donate it / sell it yourself
If it's clean and usable (check your donation group's rules on mattresses), try these official directories:
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Donate furniture, appliances and building materials. Find your nearest ReStore and ask whether it offers pickup.
- Salvation Army donation pickup: Schedule a free pickup where it's offered, using the official scheduler.
- Pickup Please (Vietnam Veterans of America): Free donation pickup in its service areas. Check your ZIP.
- Buy Nothing Project: Gift-economy groups for your neighborhood. Join through the official site or app.
- Freecycle: Find your local Freecycle group in the official directory.
- Craigslist "free" section: Pick your city in Craigslist's official site list, then go to for sale → free.
Organization names belong to their owners. Get Rid Map isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of them, and we earn nothing from these links.
Charity pickups for San Mateo
We found no charity pickup program whose own page lists San Mateo. Try the locators below.
Other places to ask about furniture pickup (we didn't check their coverage for San Mateo):
- Goodwill locator: Finds the local Goodwill for your area. Ask it whether it does pickups and which furniture it takes. Checked by us: · Source last updated: no date shown
- St. Vincent de Paul conference locator: Finds your local St. Vincent de Paul group. Ask it about furniture pickup. Checked by us: · Source last updated: no date shown
- Furniture Bank Network directory: Directory of furniture banks. Each bank has its own rules; check before you book. Checked by us: · Source last updated: no date shown
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore donations: Habitat's page says "many Habitat ReStores offer free pickup of large items, including furniture pickup". Use its ReStore finder for yours. Checked by us: · Source last updated: no date shown
Selling it yourself? People sell items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. To give it away instead, use the Craigslist "free" section listed above.
Hire someone to haul it away
Junk removal options in San Mateo
PAID Partner Optional services from independent partners
Optional paid help from independent partners. We may earn a commission. The free options above are what your city provides; nothing here is required. Partners are independent businesses we don't endorse; check their licensing and insurance. Partner listing terms · Disclosure
Junk removal pickup
If you prefer someone to carry it out from inside your home, independent junk-removal companies offer that as an optional paid service.
Junk removal quotes (coming later)
We may add a way to compare optional quotes from independent companies here.
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FAQ
How heavy can the item be?
The large item must not exceed 200 pounds.[1]
Sources (2 official pages, checked Oct 23, 2026)
- City of San Mateo Public Works, “Twice Yearly Clean-Up - San Mateo, CA.” https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/2166/Twice-Yearly-Clean-Up. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
- Recology (San Francisco franchised hauler), “Bulky Item Collection - Recology San Mateo County.” https://www.recology.com/recology-san-mateo-county/bulky-items/. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Each numbered citation [n] above links to its source. Last checked Oct 23, 2026. Rules change, so confirm before you set anything out.
Verification: Full official page read Oct 23, 2026