How to get rid of a mattress in Nogales, AZ.

Companies that come to your home and carry the mattress out, so you need no vehicle. The prices below are starting prices unless stated — stairs, box springs and extra items add to them.

Most charities will not take a used mattress. These are the ones we checked, including the ones that say no.

• The Salvation Army (satruck.org): accepted-items list includes 'Mattresses' and beds; also says local ordinances and need vary by location and to call 1-800-SA-TRUCK to confirm what a local center accepts. Source
• Doesn’t take mattresses. Habitat for Humanity national ReStore guide: 'Mattresses and box springs are not accepted.' Source

Policies vary by branch. Call before you carry one over — we asked each of the big three directly: Goodwill, the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.

What we established about this city in particular — including where it runs nothing of its own and residents have to look elsewhere.

• Nogales answers the mattress question directly and the answer is no. On the Residential Recycling page, under Green Waste Collection, the City of Nogales states: "The green waste collection does not include couches, mattresses, refrigerators, or other large, bulky items. Residents should dispose of these items on their own." The green waste rules that surround it are "All green waste should be cut, tied, bundled, bagged, or boxed for easy collection" and "Each bundle should not weigh more than 60 pounds". Curbside recycling is collected "Thursday or Friday, depending on your collection schedule" and takes "Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers (Plastics 1 to 7 only)", "Newspaper, printing paper, magazines, paper sacks, etc.", "Cardboard boxes (packing, cereal, etc.)", "Aluminum cans (soda, soup, etc.)", "Steel tin cans" and "Empty Aerosol cans", with the warning "Please do not bag recyclable materials...keep them loose!" Questions go to Public Works at 520-285-5731. Nothing on the page recycles or diverts a mattress. Source Not confirmed: The page tells residents to "dispose of these items on their own" but names no destination, and does not link the city's own waste transfer facility.
• There is no Nogales bulk-item round to book: the city's collection is containers only. The Environmental Services page states: "The City of Nogales offers twice-weekly refuse collection in pre-approved City containers only. Please call the City of Nogales Public Works Department at 520-285-5731 to request your approved containers. Please remember that the blue and black containers are City property. They do not belong to you! If you move, please leave the containers at your residence for the next tenants. Taking the bins with you is theft and is subject to prosecution." On timing: "Generally, regular household waste is collected either Monday or Tuesday, depending on your area's collection schedule. To avoid not receiving service, place your trash can on the sidewalk before 6 am. Regular waste should be placed in the city-provided gray bin. If needed, the blue bin provided by the City can also be used. Please do not use other bins or place trash on the sidewalk or on top of the bin to avoid messy streets and unsanitary conditions. The lid should be kept closed at all times. Please remove all trash cans from the sidewalk at the end of the day." The city notes "The City of Nogales has begun fully automated trash collection services in some residential neighborhoods" using "a sideload waste collection truck", and for business "commercial refuse collection services two to six times a week, except Sundays and city-recognized holidays", from "a minimal service of 1 cubic yard collected twice a week" up to "containers as big as 6 or 8 cubic yards collected up to six days a week". Medical waste is excluded: "The City of Nogales does not collect medical or human pathogen waste." No bulky-item, large-item or special pickup program appears anywhere in the Public Works or Environmental Services sections of the city's site. Source Not confirmed: The city publishes no residential refuse rate and no fee schedule: the sanitation charge is set up in person at 777 N Grand Avenue and no figure is given online. Not confirmed: No Spanish-language waste page was found on nogalesaz.gov; the sitemap lists no Spanish version of the Environmental Services, recycling, trash schedule or transfer facility pages, so no Spanish-only detail could be recorded.
• Nogales city code names the class a mattress falls into, caps it at 60 pounds, and prices the alternative at nothing published. Sec. 16-1 defines "Bulk refuse means large items such as discarded washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, water heaters and furniture." Sec. 16-81(C)(5) is the rule that stops a mattress at the curb: "No residential collection container shall be filled with more than the rated weight limit for the container, nor shall any bulk refuse item exceed 60 pounds in weight." Related limits in the same section: discarded cactus and thorny plants must be wrapped and bound "in packages not to exceed 60 pounds in weight", and "Discarded materials greater than four feet in length, such as tree trimmings, shall be cut into lengths not to exceed four feet, and securely bound together. No such bundle shall exceed two feet in diameter or 60 pounds in weight." Sec. 16-81(C)(9) sets out what happens to anything non-compliant: "Any refuse in noncompliance with any of the above provisions shall be disposed of through: a. Self-help; such self-help shall not serve to waive the regular collection fee levied by the city. b. Contract for special service; subject to the fee established from time to time by the Mayor and City Council", and (C)(10) "Noncompliance with any standard outlined in this chapter shall give the city collectors the right to refuse collection service." Sec. 16-59(10) makes it unlawful for anyone but the city to collect residential refuse from a residence. Sec. 16-86(b)(1) requires that "All residential collection containers shall be placed on the curb of the approved street or alley closest to the premises occupied by the generator", (b)(4) that "Residential collection shall be twice weekly unless otherwise determined by published schedule", and (a) that anyone hauling refuse along a street use a covered, spill-proof vehicle with "a cover, which may be a tarpaulin, netting or similar material". Sec. 16-88: "It is unlawful for any person to place, or cause to be placed, any refuse upon any public or private property within the city, except as specifically permitted in this chapter." Sec. 16-87 vests ownership of set-out refuse and bars scavenging. Nogales code current through the August 17, 2022 version; Chapter 16 was adopted by Ord. No. O2006-06-001, 6-12-2006. Source Not confirmed: The "Contract for special service" fee under Sec. 16-81(C)(9)(b) is set by resolution of the Mayor and City Council and no resolution or fee schedule publishing it was found, so the price of a special collection is unknown and is not recorded. Not confirmed: The code does not say whether a mattress is treated as bulk refuse, only that bulk refuse is "large items such as ... furniture"; a mattress is not listed in the definition.
• Nogales publishes a ladder of fines for dumping rather than a single figure, and it rises with each repeat. Sec. 16-26(a)(1): "A person found responsible for a civil violation or civil infraction for the first time shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $2,500.00 per civil violation or civil infraction. A person found responsible for the same civil violation or civil infraction for a second time shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $2,500.00 per civil violation or civil infraction. A person found responsible for the same civil violation or civil infraction for a third or subsequent time shall be fined not less than $300.00 nor more than $2,500.00 per civil violation or civil infraction. The imposition of a fine for civil violations or civil infractions shall not be suspended." Sub-section (a)(2) requires the magistrate to "order abatement of the civil violation or civil infraction", and (b) adds a daily fine for failing to comply with that order, "not less than $100.00, nor more than $2,500.00 ... for each day the defendant fails to comply", rising to $200.00 and then $300.00 minimums on repeat, capped at "$2,500.00 per civil violation or civil infraction". Sub-section (c): "Any civil fine not paid within 30 days after judgment shall constitute a lien against the real property of the defendant and may be filed with the County Recorder's office." For litter left on private property Secs. 16-89 to 16-97 run the notice, appeal, removal-by-the-city and lien route. Source
• The one Nogales charity that takes furniture publishes a donation list that stops just short of a mattress. Crossroads Nogales Mission, which runs the Second Chance thrift store, lists what it accepts as "Clothing (Men's, Women's, Kids'), Baby Gear, Shoes & Accessories, Furniture, Appliances & Electronics, Toys, Bikes, Board Games, Bedding & Home Decor, Jewelry & Unique Finds", with the note "Drop-offs help us save and serve more people, faster!" The published drop-off point is "619 N. Potrero Dr., Nogales, AZ 85621", open "Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM | Saturday: 10 AM - 3 PM", with contact "(520) 287-5828" and "office@crossroadsnog.com" for a drop-off or a pickup. "All proceeds go directly to helping us feed, clothe, and care for men, women, and children in need." The mission publishes no refusal list at all: neither mattresses nor any other item is named as unaccepted, and "Bedding" is not defined. On the published evidence the mission is not recorded as a mattress option, because it states no mattress policy either way. Source Not confirmed: Whether a used mattress is accepted is not published: the accept list names "Furniture" and "Bedding & Home Decor" but not mattresses, and there is no list of items refused. Not confirmed: The donation page gives 619 N. Potrero Dr. as the drop-off while the Second Chance store page gives 519 North Potrero Ave; the mission publishes both without saying which takes furniture.
• The shop side of the same Nogales mission publishes an address and hours but no donation policy. The Second Chance page gives the store as "519 North Potrero Ave, Nogales, AZ 85621", "Open Monday - Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM", contact "(520) 287-5828" and "office@crossroadsnog.com", and says of donating that "when you donate, you're not just clearing out space" and "All proceeds go directly to helping us feed, clothe, and care for men, women, and children in need." It sets out no list of accepted or refused goods, so it adds nothing to the mattress question beyond where the shop is. Source Not confirmed: No accepted or refused item list is published on the store page, and no mattress policy.

• New River county address is 41835 North New River Road, Phoenix 85087, while ADEQ lists 41835 N Lake Pleasant, Peoria 85382. Rainbow Valley county street number is 17795 versus ADEQ 17735. Cave Creek county city label differs from ADEQ Carefree. Source
• County receiving list includes 15 transfer stations plus Western Regional Landfill. It differs from ADEQ on Double Adobe direction (6996 N versus S Central Highway), Bowie ZIP (85643 versus 85605), Tombstone ZIP (85638 versus 85352), Sunsites city/ZIP and Bisbee road spelling (Tovreaville versus Torveaville). Source
• ADEQ Composting, Recycling & HHW FAQs (revised Oct. 28, 2025) read in full, including the collapsed accordion panels. No statewide mattress stewardship program, landfill ban or retailer take-back appears anywhere on the page. The resident recycling panel tells people to use the ADEQ eMap or to search "City of [where you live] recycling", and if the municipality offers nothing, to search "[County you live in] recycling" for a drop-off service. Mattress disposal in Arizona is handled by local governments. Source
• The statewide locator ADEQ links from its recycling pages is the "Arizona Recycling Locator" ArcGIS Experience app. Its own text says the app covers E-Waste, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and General Recycling in your community, and carries an ADEQ disclaimer that it cannot verify the listed items will be accepted at all locations and that residents should contact the facility. There is no mattress or bulky-item category among the three advertised layers. Source
• Mattress Recycling Council's Program States page names exactly four states where it operates recycling programs under enacted mattress recycling laws: California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Oregon. Arizona is not among them, confirming there is no MRC-run mattress stewardship program or Bye Bye Mattress free drop-off network in Arizona. Source