Option 1: City Curbside Bulk Pickup
The city of Killeen does pick up mattresses from the curb. It's not free, but it's the lowest-effort option if you're a city utility customer.
Here's how it works: place the mattress at your curb on your regular scheduled garbage collection day. The city picks it up and bills the charge directly to your solid waste utility account — no cash needed at the door. The fee starts at $21 for up to 3 cubic yards of bulk material. If you want pickup on a day other than your scheduled collection day, that's a premium service at $23 per stop.
A queen mattress alone takes up around 18 cubic feet, which is well under 3 cubic yards. One mattress on its own should land in that base $21 range. Add a box spring and bed frame to the same pickup to get the most out of the stop.
One thing that trips people up: if you set the mattress out on the wrong day, the city won't pick it up automatically. It needs to be your scheduled collection day, or you'll need to request premium service separately.
Option 2: Killeen Transfer Station
If you want to haul it yourself, the Transfer Station on Highway 195 is your best option. This is the city's solid waste facility — not a recycling center.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 12200 State Highway 195, Killeen, TX 76549 |
| Phone | (254) 501-8971 |
| Mon / Tue / Thu / Fri | 8 am – 5 pm |
| Wed / Sat | 8 am – 3 pm |
| 4th Saturday of month | Closed |
| Mattress fee (non-resident / commercial) | $20 per mattress or box spring |
| Killeen utility customers | First 500 lbs per calendar month free — show your current utility bill + valid ID |
| Over 500 lbs (residents) | $4.00 per 100 lbs |
| Unsecured load surcharge | $26.25 — cover your load, no warnings issued |
| Payment | Cash, local checks, credit cards (no Amex, no phone payments) |
Killeen city utility customers get a meaningful break here. Your first 500 pounds of waste per calendar month costs nothing. A queen mattress typically weighs 60 to 80 pounds, so if you haven't already used your monthly allowance, dropping it off may cost you nothing beyond the drive. Bring your latest utility bill — paper or on your phone — and a valid ID. The scale attendant will check it.
The $26.25 unsecured load fee is worth taking seriously. Tie down or cover the mattress before you leave the house. They don't issue warnings — if you pull in with an uncovered load, the surcharge gets added on top of whatever else you owe. State law backs them up on this.
Fort Hood / Camp Cavazos Residents — Read This First
If you live on post at Fort Cavazos, you have a separate path. On-post residents can use the Fort Cavazos Recycle Center and on-post landfill — you'll need to stop at the Recycle Center first to get a disposal voucher before proceeding to the landfill.
Here's the part that matters: Texas law prohibits Fort Cavazos from accepting waste from off-post residents. If you live in Killeen proper and drive to the on-post landfill, they will turn you away. Off-post residents use the city Transfer Station on Highway 195 — period.
Illegal dumping on post carries fines that can easily exceed $1,000. The base runs patrols specifically for this. Not worth it when the Transfer Station is right there.
Option 3: Donate It (If It Qualifies)
Donation only works if the mattress is genuinely clean, stain-free, and has no bed bugs. That's a real bar — most organizations won't take it otherwise, and some will turn you away at the door even if it looks fine.
In Killeen, your realistic options are:
Salvation Army — 501 N 2nd St, (254) 634-7172. The thrift store on E Rancier Ave has closed. The service center on N 2nd St is the active location. Call before you haul anything over — mattress acceptance varies by location and condition. They occasionally accept them, occasionally don't.
Goodwill. Most Goodwill locations, including those in Central Texas, do not accept mattresses due to hygiene regulations. Don't assume — call first.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Harker Heights / Killeen area. Some ReStore locations accept mattresses in good condition. Call your nearest location before loading the truck.
Local shelters and transitional housing programs in Bell County occasionally accept clean mattresses. A quick call to 211 (Texas social services line) can help identify who's actively accepting items.
Donation is the move if the mattress is in real shape. If it's got stains or it's been around a while, skip the calls and go straight to the Transfer Station.
Option 4: Private Junk Removal
If you can't haul it yourself and curbside timing doesn't work, private junk removal services operate throughout Killeen and Bell County. Pricing typically starts around $85 to $130 for a single mattress pickup, depending on the company, your zip code, and whether you're bundling other items. Booking two or three things at once usually brings the per-item cost down.
Companies like LoadUp, Mattress Disposal Plus, and 1-800-GOT-JUNK serve the Killeen area. Get an upfront price online before committing — most show quotes before you confirm. Same-day or next-day service is usually available.
Private removal is convenient. It is not cheap. The city's $21 curbside option costs less than a quarter of the private services — worth doing the math before you book.
Common Mistakes
Putting it out on the wrong day. The city collects bulk items on your scheduled garbage day, not whenever it's convenient. Set it out the morning of that day — not the night before, not two days early.
Driving to the Transfer Station without covering the load. The $26.25 unsecured load surcharge gets added automatically. Bring a tarp or a bungee net. No exceptions, no warnings.
Assuming Goodwill or Salvation Army will take it. The Killeen thrift store scene has shifted — the Salvation Army store on E Rancier is closed, and most national chains won't take used mattresses without a phone call first. Call before you load the car.
Off-post residents trying to use the Fort Cavazos landfill. It's not allowed. Texas law bars them from accepting off-post waste. City Transfer Station is your option.
Tex's Take
Curbside bulk pickup is the right call for most Killeen residents. $21, no hauling, no trip to Highway 195. It shows up on your utility bill and you're done.
The Transfer Station is better if you've already got a truck loaded or you want to control the timing. Killeen utility customers with room in their 500-pound monthly allowance can drop a mattress for free — that's a genuinely good deal that not many people know about. Bring your bill.
Private junk removal exists for a reason. Useful when you're moving fast, don't have a truck, or need same-day. Just know what you're paying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Killeen have free mattress pickup?
Not exactly free, but close. City utility customers can drop off up to 500 pounds of waste per calendar month at the Transfer Station at no charge. A single mattress (typically 60–80 lbs) fits well within that limit. You need a current utility bill and valid ID. Curbside pickup via the city costs $21 and gets charged to your solid waste account.
Can I leave a mattress at the curb in Killeen?
Yes, on your scheduled garbage collection day. The city picks up bulk items including mattresses for a $21 fee (up to 3 cubic yards), billed to your utility account. You don't need to call ahead — placing items at the curb on collection day counts as consent for pickup.
Will Goodwill or Salvation Army take a used mattress in Killeen?
Goodwill generally does not accept mattresses due to hygiene regulations. The Salvation Army's E Rancier Ave thrift store has closed. The Salvation Army service center at 501 N 2nd St may occasionally accept clean mattresses — call (254) 634-7172 first. Don't assume either will take it without calling.
Can Fort Hood/Fort Cavazos residents use the city's Transfer Station?
Yes. The Transfer Station at 12200 State Highway 195 accepts waste from citizens and businesses in the City of Killeen and surrounding rural county areas. If you live off-post in the Killeen area, this is your facility. The on-post Fort Cavazos landfill does not accept waste from off-post residents by law.
How much does it cost to dump a mattress at the Killeen Transfer Station?
The Transfer Station has a specific mattress processing fee of $20 per item for non-residents and commercial customers. Killeen utility customers get up to 500 pounds per month free — and a mattress typically falls within that weight. Fees are effective as of October 1, 2025.
Is illegal dumping a problem in Killeen?
Yes, particularly around Fort Cavazos training areas. Citations for illegal dumping can reach $1,000 or more. The city Transfer Station and curbside pickup exist specifically so there's no reason to dump. The fees are low enough that the math doesn't add up in favor of dumping.
Data verified May 2026 against killeentexas.gov/315/Transfer-Station and killeentexas.gov/314/Residential-Services. Fees are subject to change — call (254) 501-8971 before your visit to confirm current rates.
About Tex
Tex is the pen name of Vinod Pandey, an environmental researcher who runs TexasRecycleGuide.com. Every guide is independently researched against official Texas city and county solid waste sources. No guesswork, no invented addresses.
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The Short Version
For most Killeen residents, curbside bulk pickup handles it. $21, on your scheduled day, billed to your account. If you've got a truck and want to control timing, the Transfer Station on Highway 195 is open six days a week — and if you're under your 500-pound monthly limit as a city customer, the drop-off costs nothing.
Fort Cavazos residents: the on-post landfill is for on-post residents only. Off-post, it's the city Transfer Station. Call the solid waste line at (254) 501-7785 if you're not sure which zone applies to your address.
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