As of December 3rd, all mattresses and box springs that are being thrown away must be fully encased in a securely sealed plastic bag to help prevent an increase in bed bug activity in New York City. It doesn't matter if the bedding is infested by bed bugs or not--it must still be enclosed in a plastic bag.
Failure to encase bedding can lead to a $100 to $300 fine. Summonses will begin being issued on January 3rd.
The Sanitation Department suggests that you put the bag on the mattress or box spring before you take it out of your home and put it on the curb.
The large-size bags that are needed should be available at department stores, home improvement centers, home supply businesses, hardware stores, and online. Most bedding stores will remove your old bedding when you buy new bedding from them.