Typically, you cannot just put a mattress out for garbage. Mattresses are big and bulky and should be recycled, not thrown in the trash. Leaving a mattress by the trash cans when it’s not meant to be picked up by the local waste management company can also result in a fine. That said, local waste management companies often have a “heavy trash day” once a month, and most people can get away with tossing their mattresses on heavy trash day.