Mattresses, Appliances and Other Awkward Items
The things that don't fit in a bin, aren't worth a truck, and often can't just go in a container either.
Mattresses, appliances, televisions, tires and hot tubs all sit on the ask-before-loading list. That's usually a yes with a count, not a no.
Refrigerant-containing appliances — fridges, freezers, AC units — are regulated and usually need certifying as evacuated before disposal.
Hazardous chemicals, paints, solvents, batteries, medical waste and asbestos never go in a container at any volume. El Paso County and Colorado Springs run household hazardous waste programmes.
If you have one mattress and nothing else, a container is the wrong purchase. It earns its place when awkward items ride along with a bigger clear-out.
Reviewed September 7, 2026. Prices and included scope are checked against our current rate card.
Most of these need approval first
Appliances, mattresses and tires all sit in the "ask before loading" category. That isn't us being difficult — disposal facilities have their own rules for these items, and those rules change. Something that went in a mixed load last year may not this year.
So the answer to "can I put a mattress in your dumpster" is: probably, tell us how many. And the answer for a fridge is: tell us what it is, because refrigerant matters.
What to expect
Mattresses and box springs. Bulky, awkward, and they take up far more container volume than their weight suggests. Usually workable with prior approval. Tell us the count when you book — one is a different conversation from eight.
Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners. Anything containing refrigerant is regulated, and units usually need to be certified as evacuated before disposal. Tell us what you have and we'll work out whether it can go in the container or needs handling separately.
Washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges. Usually more straightforward than refrigerant-containing appliances, but still worth confirming. They're heavy, so a kitchen's worth of them eats into the weight allowance.
Televisions and electronics. Often handled through electronics recycling rather than mixed debris. Ask before loading.
Tires. On the ask-first list. Disposal facilities usually treat tires separately from general debris and there is usually a per-tire arrangement.
Hot tubs. These come up more than you'd expect. A hot tub has to be drained and cut down before it goes anywhere, and the shell is bulkier than it looks. Tell us at booking; it's usually workable with planning.
Sheds and playsets. Fine once broken down enough to sit below the top rail. The demolition is yours; the disposal is ours.
The genuinely never list
These are not approval questions. They don't go in a container at all:
- Hazardous chemicals
- Paints and solvents
- Batteries
- Medical or infectious waste
- Asbestos or suspected asbestos
- Other regulated material
El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs run household hazardous waste programmes for most of this. Check current hours and accepted items with them directly, since programmes and eligibility change. The full picture is on our rental rules page.
Honestly, sometimes not
If you have one mattress and nothing else, a container is the wrong purchase. You're paying $350 to dispose of a single item, and a junk removal crew or a retailer haul-away at delivery will cost far less.
A container makes sense when the awkward items are part of a bigger clear-out. A house being emptied, a rental turnover, a garage that has been filling up for a decade. At that point the mattress is riding along with everything else and it costs you almost nothing extra.
Our comparison of dumpster rental and junk removal works through where the line sits.
Before You Book
Call or text (719) 203-2529 if you want a straight answer on your specific job.
Can I put a mattress in a dumpster?
Usually, with prior approval. Mattresses are on the ask-before-loading list because facility rules for them vary and change. Tell us how many you have when you book — one is a very different conversation from eight.
Can I throw away a refrigerator?
Tell us what it is first. Appliances containing refrigerant are regulated and usually need to be certified as evacuated before disposal, so they may need handling separately from a mixed-debris container.
Do you take tires?
Tires are on the ask-first list. Disposal facilities usually handle them separately from general debris, so contact us with the count before loading and we'll confirm the arrangement.
What about paint and chemicals?
Those never go in a container. Hazardous chemicals, paints, solvents, batteries, medical waste and asbestos are all excluded. El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs run household hazardous waste programmes — check current accepted items with them directly.
Got something unusual to get rid of?
Tell us what it is and how many. We'll confirm whether it can go in a container before you book, not after.
- No address or payment details
- Most replies within a few hours
- Three fields, about twenty seconds
Faster: call (719) 203-2529 or send a text— or book online if you already know the size and dates.