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 usually cheapest; if you are buying new, ask the retailer to take the old one. For a mattress stuck upstairs or several beds in Chichester, a private collection is easier.
Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance
A mattress cannot go in a wheelie bin, so the real choices are a council bulky collection, a trip to the household waste recycling centre, asking the retailer to take the old one when you buy new, or a private collection. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official pages before you book anything.
Chichester District Council collection
Best for: One mattress that you can get outside before collection day.
- Cost
- Check the council page for the current price
- Timing
- Booked collection slot
- Confirm mattresses are covered, and where to leave one, when you book
- 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
- Check the A to Z guide for any charge
- Timing
- Book a slot first
- Chichester Recycling Centre, Coach Road, Westhampnett
- Booked slot and proof of West Sussex residency needed
- A double mattress is awkward in a car - check it fits first
Private collection with Chichester House Clearance
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 Chichester District Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Chichester%20District%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection
Chichester District Council runs a bulky household waste collection for residents. Before you book, check the council's own bulky waste page for whether a mattress is accepted, what it costs, how many items one booking covers and where the item must be left on collection day. We have not quoted a price here because council charges change and you should see the current figure at source.
West Sussex County Council's mattress disposal guidance points residents to the bulky waste route, so that is the place to start.
Take it to the tip yourselfSection titled Take%20it%20to%20the%20tip%20yourself
The nearest site is the Chichester Recycling Centre on Coach Road, Westhampnett, run by West Sussex County Council. Its page says you must book a slot before visiting, unless you arrive on foot, by bicycle or on a mobility scooter. It also says Luton-type vans and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight are not allowed.
- Under the county's terms and conditions, bring proof of residency and your booking confirmation, or staff will turn you away. The proof of residency page lists the accepted documents.
- The same terms say you do not need a permit to visit a recycling centre.
- Whether a mattress is accepted, and whether any charge applies, is not stated on the centre page. It tells you to check the council's A to Z guide before you travel, so do that first.
Retailer take-back when you buy a new mattressSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20a%20new%20mattress
Many bed retailers will collect your old mattress when they deliver a new one, but terms vary by retailer and by order, and some charge for it. Ask before you pay, and get the cost and any conditions in writing.
We have not listed individual retailer schemes because we could not confirm their current terms.
Can you donate or sell an old mattress?Section titled Can%20you%20donate%20or%20sell%20an%20old%20mattress%3F
Reuse is rarely an option for a mattress. The British Heart Foundation's list of items it cannot accept includes children's mattresses, upholstered items without fire safety labels and items in poor condition. Other charities set their own rules, so contact them before offering one.
Only a clean mattress in good condition with its fire safety label has any chance of being passed on.
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, there are several beds or a whole bedroom to clear, nobody can lift it, or you cannot wait for a council slot. Chichester House Clearance carries it out and disposes of it through licensed routes.
Old mattress in the way?
We collect mattresses, bed frames and bedroom furniture across Chichester, 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
Chichester District Council collectionCheck the council page for the price, item limits and where to leave it.
You have a van or a big car
Recycling centreChichester Recycling Centre in Westhampnett needs a booked slot and proof of residency.
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 out with my bins in Chichester?Section titled Can%20I%20put%20a%20mattress%20out%20with%20my%20bins%20in%20Chichester%3F
No. A mattress is a bulky item and will not fit in a wheelie bin. Use one of the routes above, and check the council's waste pages for its current rules on items left out beside bins.
Does the tip charge for mattresses?Section titled Does%20the%20tip%20charge%20for%20mattresses%3F
The Chichester Recycling Centre page does not list charges. It tells you to check the council's A to Z guide for what the site accepts and any applicable charges, so check that before you go.
What happens to a mattress after it is collected?Section titled What%20happens%20to%20a%20mattress%20after%20it%20is%20collected%3F
Where a mattress is recycled, the usual approach is to separate the materials, such as springs, foam and fabric, so each can be reused. How a particular mattress is handled depends on the route and the contractor, so ask whoever collects it.
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 Chichester and nearby areas.