This tutorial discribes the method I used to disable Bluetooth in Ubuntu Mate 16.04. To disable Bluetooth in Ubuntu Mate 17.04, please scroll down to post No. 8 for the correct method.
To turn off Bluetooth by default in Ubuntu-Mate 16.04
Open the Terminal and run the following command:
gksu pluma /etc/default/tlp
Find the section:
# Radio devices to disable on startup: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# Separate multiple devices with spaces.
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_STARTUP="bluetooth wifi wwan"
Edit the last line to read:
DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_STARTUP="bluetooth"
Example:
# Radio devices to disable on startup: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# Separate multiple devices with spaces.
DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_STARTUP="bluetooth"
Save and close the file.
You also need to stop the Blueman Applet from loading at startup as it will turn on Bluetooth when it loads. This can be done by unchecking it in Startup Applications Preferences.
The next time you reboot Bluetooth should be disabled.