A state law that banned the curbside disposal of used mattresses and box-springs kicked in back in November 2022. It’s well-intended and over time will relieve pressure on landfills. But it’s been a nuisance in our neighborhoods since many uninformed people still assume you can pitch your old, crummy bedding on trash days. That’s led to frequent eyesores, hazards on the sidewalks, and more dumping on vacant lots – definitely not a good look.

This week, the city is taking new steps to make it easier to recycle your old bedding. On Tuesday, the Public Works Department went live with an online system that allows residents to schedule mattress and box-spring pick-ups. Go to Boston.gov/mattress to get it done.

There are a few caveats.

First, the free pick-ups are only offered for tenants and homeowners who live in properties with six or fewer units— which accounts for the vast majority of housing units here in Dorchester and Mattapan. If you live in a bigger complex, talk to your property manager instead.

Second: “Do not crush or cut your mattress or box spring for collection.” Also: Soiled, dirty, or bed-bug infested mattresses “must be bagged.” And residents are also asked to wait until 6 a.m. on the scheduled appointment pick-up day if there’s wet weather. 

According to the mayor’s office, the city will “accept memory foam, box springs, innerspring, hybrid, latex, and airbeds. We will not accept futons and other similar non-mattress items. Those items may be placed out for curbside trash collection.”

This innovation won’t solve all the woes of trashed-out vacant lots, but it’s a step in the right direction. Please pass the word to your neighbors, tenants, and list-servs.

Hurrah for the Dot doers

A few words of gratitude are owed to men and women who made this past Dorchester Day weekend such a triumph. From the volunteers at the Dorchester Running Club and their friends at the Blarney Stone who staged a very successful 5k road race; to the neighbors and businesses who pitched in to organize the DorchFest music event in Ashmont-Adams on Saturday; to the parade committee leaders who hustled for months to get Sunday’s logistics well in hand for the annual march up the avenue; and to the first-responders who worked overtime to be on hand to support all of these events… we say thank you. It’s not easy to pull it all together, but these traditions make our community a stronger, safer, more vibrant, and fun place to work and live. Cheers to you all for making it happen.