how to donate used car seats

1. Trade-In Events. Some big-box stores usually hold car seat trade-in events throughout the year. ...
2. Donate It. Most places are really picky about used car seats even if they’re still in excellent condition. However, you may still find that some organizations accept them.
3. Proper Recycling Protocol. Rather than opting to throw the old car seat in the trash, you can choose to recycle it yourself. ...
4. Proper Trash Protocol. If for some reason the seat can’t be recycled, donated, or traded in, it can be thrown away with the trash.

Full Answer

Can I reuse or donate my car seat?

Feb 27, 2020 · Check with your city if it can be with your standard recycling. If not, check with the local recycling plant if they accept car seats. If not, see if there is a trade in program running near you this year. If not, there are online organizations which will recycle your car seat.

How to dispose of or recycle car seats?

Aug 10, 2017 · Use the interactive tool to help you decide whether it’s safe to reuse that car seat or whether it’s time to retire it altogether. For more …

How do you recycle a car seat?

Mar 28, 2022 · Car seat technicians are always looking for seats to use for demonstrations, and will often accept expired seats as long as they’re in decent condition. Search for “car seat technicians” or “child passenger safety technicians” in your area and get in touch to see if you can donate your seat to them.

How do you dispose of a car seat?

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE SEAT. If you were not the original owner of the seat and/or do not know EVERYONE who used the seat, you can not sell the seat safely as you will not be able to answer question #2 below. 2. …

What can you do with old seats?

What to Do with Old Car Seats? Car Seat Recycling and Donation in all 50 US StatesGive the used car seat to friends or family.Donate the car seat.Recycle the car seat.Throw the car seat in the trash.Jan 7, 2021

What do I do with old car seats Ontario?

Through a partnership with Green Propeller Recycling, the only not-for-profit child car seat recycling facility in Ontario, old child car seats can now be dropped off at local Co-operators advisors' offices in many Ontario communities to be recycled.Mar 8, 2018

Can I reuse car seat for second baby?

So, as long as you're aware of, and address, safety issues and the seat is within the expiration range, you can feel comfortable using it for your new baby.Jul 2, 2015

Is it illegal to use an expired car seat in Canada?

Check for a useful life or expiry date Every child car seat and booster seat sold in Canada has an expiry or useful life date on them. They should not be used if they have passed the date.

How to recycle car seats?

Know what you have to do to recycle your car seats. First, ask a recycling center near you. There are plenty of recycling centers that take car seats. Depending on the center, they may take the seat as is or they may need the seat stripped down. Get rid of everything that’s not plastic.

Do car seats expire?

There is always an expiration date on car seats. This date is important for the safety of the seat. It must be fully functional with its original parts. Any missing pieces can render the seat unusable, especially parts that were only meant for a temporary fix.

Why do car seats expire?

Expiration dates help to ensure that your car seat reflects the latest in technology, which not only helps protect your child but may also help you get a more secure installation. A nonexpired date ensures that your seat meets the most up-to-date safety regulations.

How long are car seats good for?

Most seats are good for six years or more from the date they're manufactured. If the date has passed, dispose of the seat properly by stripping it of all fabric and cutting all harnesses and straps so that they can no longer be used. Clearly mark the seat’s shell “Do Not Use.”.

Is every recall a safety recall?

Check to see whether there have been any recalls, and if so, make sure the problems have been addressed. Not every recall is a safety recall, but every recall is important to follow up , even if it’s just a minor fix.

How to dispose of a car seat?

If for some reason the seat can’t be recycled, donated, or traded in, it can be thrown away with the trash. There are, however, a few guidelines to follow before doing so. They’re similar to the recycling guidelines and there to ensure it can be disposed of efficiently: 1 Remove all extra padding and foam. 2 Cut away any straps. 3 Remove all metal pieces from the seat. 4 Mark the seat. You should clearly mark it as “UNSAFE” or “EXPIRED” on the bare plastic seat so nobody will be tempted to reuse it. Then you can set it out with the rest of your garbage.

What to do if your car seat is expired?

If you do find that the car seat is expired or it’s been in a moderate to severe car crash, there are still things you can do. 1. Trade-In Events. Some big-box stores usually hold car seat trade-in events throughout the year. As far as we can see, the only store that still does this is Target, but there may be others.

Who is Kristen Gardiner?

Kristen Gardiner, CPST. Kristen Gardiner, CPST is a writer, wife, and mother to three boys. Kristen became certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician by Safe Kids Worldwide in 2015 and loves to volunteer and help educate parents about car seat safety. She has a passion for all things related to child safety.

Can you reuse a car seat?

If you want to reuse the seat, make sure to give it a good scrub down. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions in your car seat manual. This is especially important if it’s been packed away for a bit. It’s still in good condition: Check for broken pieces or other wear and tear.

Can you recycle a seat?

If for some reason the seat can’t be recycled, donated, or traded in, it can be thrown away with the trash. There are, however, a few guidelines to follow before doing so. They’re similar to the recycling guidelines and there to ensure it can be disposed of efficiently: Remove all extra padding and foam.

Do you have to replace a car seat after a crash?

Some car seat manufacturers require you to replace the car seat after any crash, even if it was only minor. It’s clean: Of course, you don’t want your second (or third, fourth, etc.) child to have to use a dirty car seat. If you want to reuse the seat, make sure to give it a good scrub down.

Car Seat Recycling

The vast majority are thrown away at the end of their life cycle of life because they are hard to recycle. Every year, between recalls, damaged car seats that were in car accidents, or child safety seats that are just past their prime, roughly 180 million pounds of valuable material ends up in landfills.

Recycling is as easy as 1-2-3

Recycle any brand of old child safety car seat by ordering a recycling kit. The kit includes a custom shipping and recycling bag and a prepaid shipping label. You can also select either a $10 off or a 10% off coupon to be used on clekinc.com

Off To A Good Start

So far, we recycled over 500,200 car seats across the U.S. That's over 7.5 million pounds of waste diverted from the landfill Over 5 million pounds of plastic recycled! But with over 10 Million old, recalled, expired or, damaged car seats discarded in the U.S. every year, we still have a long road ahead.

Does Walmart accept used car seats?

Walmart announced they are accepting used car seats for recycling, and in return, you will receive a $30 Walmart gift card. If your little one is moving up to a new “big kid” car seat, you can roll that gift card over to the purchase of a new car seat or booster. This is a special event and will run from September 16-30th to coincide ...

Does Target recycle car seats?

Target has been accepting car seats for recycling since 2016, and to date have recycled half a million car seats! Through its trade-in recycling programs, Target has recycled over 11.9 million pounds of plastic.

Why are car seats so hard to recycle?

Car seats are challenging to recycle because they’re made of so many materials, which need to be separated for individual waste streams. Most programs will recycle only the metal and some of the plastic parts of the frame, which have more value than the foam and fabric covers.

How long do infant seats last?

Infant seats ( our favorite is the Chicco Keyfit 30) usually expire five to six years after the manufacture date.

Does Terracycle recycle toothpaste?

TerraCycle also partners with a range of companies for free recycling programs for packaging, like snack bags and toothpaste tubes. “That’s why we’re able to exist,” said Stevens, “because of the generous sponsorship of these companies.”.

Do car seats expire?

It should be within the expiration date. Car seats have expiration dates, which might make some parents suspicious that manufacturers are just trying to make us buy more stuff. But like anything, the components of the seats can wear out over time.

Why do car seats expire?

One of the main reasons seats expire is that they are made of plastic. Plastic becomes brittle and weak as it ages – two qualities you don’t want in a car seat that has to withstand severe crash forces. Therefore it is important that the plastic is new enough that the car seat will be able to perform properly.

How long do car seats last?

Curious why some car seats have a six year expiration date (from the date of manufacture) while others last nine years – the plastics used in these seats are different and the nine year seat may also have some steel reinforcement.

Why is plastic so weak?

Plastic becomes brittle and weak as it ages – two qualities you don’t want in a car seat that has to withstand severe crash forces. Therefore it is important that the plastic is new enough that the car seat will be able to perform properly.

How old do you have to be to get a booster seat?

if you are buying a booster seat it has enough time to get your child through the age of 10 (more than 50% of kids still need a booster at the age of 10) 5. CHECK FOR RECALLS. It is not uncommon for a seat to be recalled. Typically, most recalls can be addressed and you can continue to use the seat safely thereafter.

Can a child seat be damaged?

There is no visible damage to the child seat. If the car seat was in a minor crash, you will need to read the owner’s manual to the car seat to see what the manufacturer recommends regarding continued use of the seat. When in doubt, throw the car seat out. 3.

How to check if a car seat is recalled?

Typically, most recalls can be addressed and you can continue to use the seat safely thereafter. The easiest way to check for recalls is to call the manufacturer – you will need to give them the model name, model number & date of manufacture of your car seat, so have that information handy when you call.

Can you borrow a used car seat?

A USED CAR SEAT SAFELY. When in doubt, don’t borrow, buy, or sell a used car seat – it’s just not worth the risk. However, many used car seats are still safe – and can be sold/loaned out safely. Here is what you need to know in order to make sure the used car seat is safe.

Pass It on ... But only If You Can Vouch For Its Condition

See more on nytimes.com

Look For Buyback Programs

Recycle It—If You Can!

Throw It Out ... But Do It Right!