Mattress disposal in Quebec City: where to bring it (and why not the dump)

An old mattress isn’t just a “big pillow you throw in the trash”. It has specific rules, sanitary considerations (bedbugs), and a real ecological impact. Here’s how to handle it properly in Quebec City.

Why mattresses are complicated

A typical queen mattress:

• Volume: 3-4 cubic yards (significant)
• Weight: 55-80 lb
• Composition: springs (metal), foam (polyurethane), cotton, sometimes memory foam
• Not recyclable everywhere: few centres take them

Plus, two things make it sensitive:

• Potential bedbugs (even without visible symptoms) — regulations require disclosure
• Fire risk (poly-foam burns fast and toxic)

The 4 options, ranked

Option 1 — Ecocentre (free for residents)

Process:

1. Bring to one of Quebec City’s 4 ecocentres (Beauport, Jean-Paul-L’Allier, Raymond-Blais Ste-Foy, Val-Bélair)
2. Proof of residence + 4 free visits/year limit
3. Specific “mattress” zone at each ecocentre

Limits:

• You need a truck or van (mattress doesn’t fit in a sedan)
• If bedbug-suspected mattress: declare at entry — they send it to specialized treatment
• Queen and king count as “one unit” each in the free limit

Option 2 — Our mattress pickup service

Process:

1. Call us: 418 506-0077
2. Firm price by text within 5 minutes
3. We come pick up (often 24-48h)
4. We handle disposal and recycling appropriately

Rates:

• 1 mattress + box spring queen: $89 all-in
• 2 mattresses + box springs: $149
• Combined with other cleanout items: often free (mattress adds only $25-35 to truck quote)

Our mattress removal service is designed for this.

Option 3 — Commercial recycling centres

Specialized firms accept mattresses for real recycling (not just disposal):

• Recyc-Matelas Canada (Lévis) — 418-821-1500 — $25-40 per mattress, recycles 75% of materials
• Matelas Vert (Quebec City area) — drops mattresses at Recyc-Matelas
• ECO-Matelas Québec — sustainable option for ethical organizations

When it makes sense: if you want to ensure maximum recycling (~75% vs the landfill rate of 0%). Rates are higher than ecocentre.

Option 4 — Retail “take-back” programs

Some mattress retailers take back your old mattress when you buy a new one:

• Sleep Country — take-back included in delivery of new mattress (no extra charge)
• The Brick, Leon’s — take-back typically offered at delivery
• Dormez-Vous, Sommex — check at purchase

When it makes sense: only if you’re buying new right away. Don’t wait forever “in case” you buy new.

What NEVER to do

❌ Leave on the sidewalk

Beyond the problem of neighbour complaints, cities ticket anything left out more than 48h as bulky waste. And Quebec City specifically prohibits mattresses in regular trash bags.

❌ Burn it

Polyurethane foam releases highly toxic gases. Even in a backyard fire, it’s illegal and dangerous. Mattresses ≠ firewood.

❌ Bury it in the woods

Dumping on public or private land without consent = illegal dumping, fines $100-1,000 in Quebec.

❌ Donate an old stained mattress to charity

Renaissance, Saint-Vincent, Salvation Army don’t accept mattresses since 2022 (anti-bedbug regulations). You’re just creating headache for them.

Bedbug-specific procedure

If your mattress was infested (or you’re unsure):

Check signs:

• Small black dots on sheets/mattress seams (bedbug excrement)
• Tiny red spots (blood from bites)
• Live bugs visible (6mm, brown, moves slow)

If confirmed / suspected:

1. Seal in a thick plastic bag (2mm+ recommended)
2. Mark “USED / SUSPECTED BEDBUGS” with tape
3. Ecocentre: declare at entry, directs to specific zone
4. OR: contact a certified extermination firm (Abell, Orkin Quebec City) — they dispose correctly
5. DON’T leave the sealed bag outdoors unguarded (children, animals, break-ins risk)

Important: a bedbug-infested apartment doesn’t become bug-free just by disposing of the mattress. You need full extermination (bed frames, baseboards, etc.). Contact a professional.

Cost comparison (single queen mattress)

Option	Cost	Logistics	Recycling %
Ecocentre yourself	$0 (if in free visit quota)	Your vehicle + your time	10-20%
Our pickup ByeBazar	$89	5-min call, we come	50-70% depending on state
Recyc-Matelas	$25-40	You bring (no pickup at low rates)	75%+
Retail take-back	$0 (if buying new)	Wait for delivery	Varies
Mattress in trash	ILLEGAL	—	0%

Box springs and bed frames

Box springs

Similar to mattress — 3-4 cubic yards, metal springs. Same 4 options.

• Ecocentre: often separate zone from mattresses
• Our service: +$15 per box spring
• A “dismantled” box spring (wood + metal separately): easier to recycle

Metal bed frames

Metal itself is 100% recyclable:

• Ecocentre (metals section) — accepted
• Scrap metal yards (Zampini, Métaux Rousseau à Québec) — sometimes pay $5-15 for 50 lb of steel
• Our service: we include at no extra charge if combined with mattress

Wood bed frames

• Ecocentre (wood section)
• Our service: included
• Quality solid wood: donate to Renaissance if in good condition

Recycling — where materials really end up

A mattress sent to Recyc-Matelas Canada (ideal path):

• Metal springs (30% of weight) → steel mills, new products
• Foam (20%) → carpet underlay, mats, insulation
• Cotton/polyester textiles (15%) → insulation, industrial cloth
• Wood (15%) → pellets for biomass
• Unrecoverable (20%) → dump

Result: only 20% lands in landfill, vs 100% for the “trash” path.

Our recommendation

Buying new soon (< 4 weeks)

Wait for delivery, ask the retailer to take back the old one. $0, built-in service.

Budget very tight, time available

Ecocentre yourself. Borrow a pickup from a friend. Free.

Value your time, want it done

Our service: $89, done in 48h. No queuing at the ecocentre, no transport of 80 lb in your car.

Want maximum recycling impact

Recyc-Matelas direct in Lévis ($25-40), you bring. Really recycles.

Schedule to optimize

• Combine pickups: if you also have a couch or boxes to throw, our minimum call costs $175. So a solo mattress at $89 + any other items usually beats two separate trips.
• Avoid July 1: mattress pickups are in high demand around moving day — book 2-3 weeks before.
• Book in advance: March-April and October-November are best, flexibility is highest.

In summary

• ✅ Ecocentre = free if you have a vehicle and time
• ✅ Our pickup = $89 solo, less if combined
• ✅ Recyc-Matelas = best recycling, you bring
• ❌ Trash / sidewalk / back lot = illegal

For a mattress pickup quote: 418 506-0077.