How to Dispose of a Mattress in Chicago

Last checked: Oct 23, 2026 · Source: City of Chicago — Residential Garbage

Chicago handles large items like mattresses through the Department of Streets and Sanitation and its ward offices. The City does not publish a single citywide mattress rule page, so the key step is contacting your ward's Streets and Sanitation office before you put anything out.

Quick answer

Who gets City service: single-family homes and apartment buildings of four units or less. Other buildings must arrange private garbage collection.
Regular garbage pickups are weekly, Monday through Friday.
Bulk items: contact your ward's Streets and Sanitation office BEFORE putting items out, to avoid a ticket (as the City's 18th Ward page puts it).
We could not verify a citywide mattress fee, bagging rule, or set-out time on an official City page, so we don't list one.

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Step by step

Check that your building gets City garbage service: single-family homes and apartment buildings of four units or less. If your building has more units, your landlord or building's private hauler handles disposal.
Find your ward and contact your ward's Streets and Sanitation office. The City's 18th Ward page, for example, says Streets and Sanitation is responsible for bulk pick up, and to contact the sanitation office before putting bulk items out to prevent a ticket being issued.
Ask the ward office when and where to set the mattress out, and follow their instructions.

Live in a bigger building?

According to the City, Streets and Sanitation crews serve single-family residences and apartment buildings of four units or less; others must arrange for private garbage collection. If you rent in a larger building, ask your property manager how mattresses are handled.

What we left out (on purpose)

Some unofficial sites claim specific Chicago rules for mattresses, such as bagging requirements or that bulk pickup has ended. We could not confirm these on an official City of Chicago page, so we don't repeat them here. Your ward office is the authoritative answer for your block.

FAQ

Does the City of Chicago pick up mattresses?

The Department of Streets and Sanitation handles bulk pick up through ward offices. The City's 18th Ward page, for example, tells residents to contact the ward sanitation office before putting bulk items out, to avoid a ticket.

Can I just leave a mattress in the alley in Chicago?

The City's ward page says to contact the sanitation office before putting bulk items out, to prevent a ticket being issued. Don't set it out until you've confirmed with your ward office.

Does City garbage service cover my apartment building?

City crews service single-family residences and apartment buildings of four units or less. Larger buildings must arrange private garbage collection.

Official sources

Last checked: Oct 23, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the official source before you set anything out.