Q: We're moving up a stage in car seats and while we were able to share one with a relative who wanted it and could use it, we don't have a home for the other. I completely understand that many charitable organizations don't accept car seats for liability reasons, and appreciate that many parents would prefer to buy new seats, but it's still a huge plastic-y thing to just park with your curbside trash. Do you have suggestions for readers as to how we can recycle our car seats? (continued below)
Sent by Susannah
I've been researching this and have found companies in a seemingly very limited number of communities offer car seat recycling programs (sometimes coinciding with installation inspection), but haven't found any in my state (CT). The most viable recycling option I've found is *mailing* the seat to a company in Texas that offers to recycle it - hence my note to you! What do readers do with their old car seats? Recycle? (How?) Curbside trash? Any manufacturer programs to take back old seats? Any other inventive repurposing?
I'm primarily interested in cases where users aren't passing on or reselling their old seats -- cases you'd really need to recycle it, such as the seat is expired and no longer usable; the seat has been in an accident and hence not usable; or you just can't find anyone to take it/use it (even if still usable/unexpired).
Editor: Susannah, we're so glad you asked this question. This is not something we've discussed on Ohdeedoh before and we don't know the answer. Readers - what has happened to your family's car seats when you're done with them? What options are there besides the landfill?
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I too, have wondered this exact thing. I know Babies R Us does some type of trade in thing to get a discount on a new car seat. I wonder if they recycle them and if you could just donate it for recycling?
There ARE some charities that accept used and non-expired car seats, they're just not that easy to find - maybe a local crisis pregnancy center could direct you to something in your area. I think if it's still useable, there are people who would be glad to have it. I know of a charity that works with teen moms, and they take car seats, though the donor has to fill out some forms and so forth.
No clue if it's safe, but had a friend who turned an expired one into a toddler swing by drilling holes through the plastic sides and sewing a weather proof cover from an old hammock.
Maybe you could try calling your local foster care agency?
As the 1st commenter noted, Babies R Us has a regular trade-in event (a few times a year) for 20% off new baby gear.
I've also heard of carseat tech companies/training programs that take old carseats for training purposes.
If you do have to literally trash it, be sure to cut the straps so no one else can use the seat (if the seat is not usable).
There are many Freecycle groups in many US cities. You can offer it and someone in need will likely take it off your hands.
First check to be sure the seat has not been recalled for some defect.
If the seat has been in an accident - chuck it.
I'd also be careful about the liability of passing along a car seat - even to family. I'm not an expert on used car seats.
Car seats have an expiration date printed on the base or under the seat cover. It is not recommended to use a car seat that is past it's expiration date for safety reasons.
A local TV news station recently did a feature on car seat expiration: http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/parent_to_parent/BO64055/ and http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/BO143577/
If your old car seat has not expired and won't for a few years or so and the seat is still in good condition, you can safely donate it to another parent in need. If the car seat has expired, just throw it away or recycle or ask the manufacturer how to best dispose of it.