How to get rid of a trampoline is easier once you see what it is made of: a steel frame and springs (scrap metal), plus a mat, net, and pads (trash). Take it apart, split those two streams, and most of the weight can go to scrap instead of the landfill scale. If it is still safe and complete, giving it away may be even easier.
If it is safe: give it away
An intact trampoline with a good mat, springs, and net can be listed free or sold cheaply. Make the taker responsible for taking it down and hauling it. Do not pass along one with a torn mat, missing springs, or a bent or rusted-through frame.
Tools for the teardown
- A spring puller (or a sturdy hook) and work gloves.
- Eye protection, because springs can snap back.
- A socket set or drill for the frame and leg bolts.
- Penetrating oil, and a reciprocating saw for seized joints.
- A helper for the frame sections.
Step-by-step teardown
- Take down the enclosure net and poles.
- Remove the spring pads.
- Unhook the springs, working across the circle so tension stays even.
- Lift off the mat and roll it.
- Unbolt the legs and separate the frame sections.
- Bag springs and small hardware so nothing scatters.
Where each part goes
- Frame, legs, springs, poles: scrap metal. Many transfer stations have a metal pile, and scrap yards take steel. Keep it off the trash scale. See recyclable metal left on a trash scale.
- Mat, net, pads: regular trash, either in bags over a few pickups or at a transfer station.
- Anchors set in concrete: concrete chunks go to an inert or C&D area. See where to dump concrete.
Hauling the pieces
Curved frame sections are long and awkward. Strap them flat in a pickup bed or on a trailer, and flag anything that sticks out past the tailgate. See flagging an overhanging load. Keep the bagged springs in the cab or a bin so they cannot bounce out. If a wooden play set is going in the same trip, ask the site whether treated lumber goes in a separate pile. See pressure-treated lumber at the dump.
Bulk pickup and junk haulers
Some city bulk-pickup programs accept a trampoline taken apart and bundled to their size limits. Check your hauler’s rules before you set it out. If you lack a truck or the frame is rusted solid, a junk hauler can take it in one trip. When a junk hauler is the better call helps you compare.
How to get rid of a trampoline FAQ
Can I put a trampoline out with the trash?
Usually not whole. Some bulk pickup programs accept a disassembled trampoline in bundles; check your hauler’s size and bundling rules.
How do I get rid of a trampoline for free?
Give away a safe, intact trampoline to someone who will take it down and haul it, or take the steel frame to a scrap yard that accepts metal at no charge.
How long does it take to take apart a trampoline?
Often an hour or two with a spring tool and a helper. Rusted bolts and springs take longer.
Is a broken trampoline safe to donate?
No. A torn mat, stretched springs, or a cracked frame make it a hazard. Scrap and dispose of it instead.
The bottom line
Give away a safe trampoline. Otherwise take it apart, send the steel to scrap, bag the soft parts, and haul what is left to a transfer station.
Hauling it yourself? If the load won’t fit in the truck bed, a 6×10 ft open-rail utility trailer or a 4×8 ft folding trailer (it folds upright to store in a garage) can cost less than a couple of hauler trips. Tie everything down with ratchet tie-down straps; many sites charge extra for loose or uncovered loads.
Guides and tools
Dump cost calculator · Recyclable Metal Left on a Trash Scale · Flagging an Overhanging Load · All material guides
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