where can i donate car seats

• Women’s shelters or other local charities: There are many organizations that provide resources to families in need. Often foster families are short on necessities like car seats.
• Church organizations: Church organizations are always looking to help. Some may have ministries where they give away car seats to needy families. ...
• Local CPSTs: Child passenger safety technicians are trained on car seat safety and how to install car seats (3). They teach parents the ropes. ...

Full Answer

Can I reuse or donate my car seat?

Feb 27, 2020 · Retailers like Target and Walmart have ran temporary car seat trade in programs. They often recycle your car seat and offer store credit or a gift card. The amount you get in return will vary, but you can use the funds to get your next car seat! These excellent car seat trade in programs do not typically run year round.

Where can I donate cars for a good cause?

Jan 08, 2022 · Here’s some good news:If you can’t find a place to donate your car seat, you can participate in a trade-in event. During a trade-in event, you can bring in your old car seat for recycling and receive a discount coupon or gift card in exchange. The two biggest stores that offer this are Walmart and Target.

Where can I recycle expired car seats?

Feb 01, 2021 · Finding out where to donate car seats is easy if you know what you're looking for. Here are just a few examples of donating a car seat to charity: Donate to a Child Passenger Safety Technician: CPTA's can use your old car seats to teach new parent's how to use them. This is a great way to dispose of a seat without sending it to a landfill or recycling center.

Where is the safest seat in the car?

Aug 10, 2017 · You can contact your local recycling plant to see whether it accepts used car seats or search online for trade-in programs in your area. …

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.

What can I do with old car seats?

Donate to a Child Passenger Safety Technician: CPTA’s can use your old car seats to teach new parent’s how to use them. This is a great way to dispose of a seat without sending it to a landfill or recycling center. Non-profits, charities, and women’s organizations: You may need a seat that is in perfect condition but there are plenty ...

How to donate a car to Make A Wish Kids?

Here’s how to donate a car to benefit Make-A-Wish kids: First, fill out our online car donation form or give us a call at 1-855-278-9474 to start the donation process. Second, we’ll reach out to you within 24 hours to set up your free towing.

How to get rid of metal on car seat?

Throw all of these items in the trash, as they are not recyclable. Get rid of all metal on the seat. This time grab a screw driver and remove any metal parts of the car seat. Some recycling centers will do this part themselves.

How to know if you qualify for a car seat?

Here is a car seat safety checklist to know if you qualify for trading or donation: Check for any recalls. Most recalls can be fixed on your own. Check to see if you have the instruction manual or download the manufacturers instructions to see if the recall is something that you can fix at home.

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.

Can you throw a car seat in a landfill?

If you need to throw your seat in a land fill, make sure you render the seat unusable so that it is not mistaken as a working car seat. The same guidelines for recycling apply to the disposing of a seat through a landfill. Just make sure you remove all straps, padding, and miscellaneous items.

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 many car seats has Target recycled?

Another great program is the Target trade-in event. 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.

When is Baby Safety Awareness Month?

This is a special event and will run from September 16-30th to coincide with Baby Safety Awareness Month.

Does Target's car seat coupon expire?

Be aware that the coupon must be used right away. Based on past events, the coupon will expire a day after the end of the trade-in period. Target will accept any car seat in any condition, including booster seats. This is a great option if you have your eye on another baby item you need.

Does Walmart accept Terracycle car seats?

Walmart has partnered with TerraCycle and will be accepting car seats across nearly 4000 locations all over the country. Please note that each household will be limited to two gift cards. TerraCycle will recycle every car seat brought into Walmart, which means all of the components of the car seat will avoid a landfill.

When is Walmart recycling?

September 16-30, 2019 – Recycle at Walmart. From now through September 30, 2019, bring your child’s car seat to your local Walmart for recycling, and receive a $30 coupon towards a new seat. More info here. September 18, 2019 No comments.

When is the recycle event at Target 2021?

Recyclers are eligible for a 20% coupon for kids’ gear as well. Event runs from April 5 – April 17, 2021. More information here. April 7, 2021 No comments.

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.

How to find the expiration date on a car seat?

To find the expiration date on the car seat, just flip it over and look on the back or on the bottom. The expiration date is usually either printed on a sticker or embossed into the plastic. Other manufacturers may print it inside the instruction manual.

How long is a car seat good after it's expired?

It isn’t expired: A car seat is technically still good up until the date manufacturers give. We recommend not using it within a month or two of the date to give yourself plenty of time to replace it. It hasn’t been in an accident: Minor accidents don’t automatically destroy a car seat’s integrity.

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 a seat be recycled?

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. 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:

Is a second hand car seat still in good condition?

It’s still in good condition: Check for broken pieces or other wear and tear. Be sure to look under the fabric cover to fully inspect the seat. Even the smallest nick can render a seat unusable. It’s important to take extra care when using a secondhand car seat.

How to recycle car seat?

Consumer Reports compiled the following list of tips from the recycling program in Ann Arbor, Michigan: 1 First, use scissors to cut off the fabric, foam padding and harness straps from the seat. 2 Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove as much metal as possible. 3 Remove the car seat cover and any padding underneath it. 4 Discard the fabric, foam padding, straps and mixed metal-plastic pieces and small plastic pieces. 5 Mark the plastic as expired or unsafe. 6 Recycle the bulky plastic body and all-metal pieces.

How to remove a car seat cover?

First, use scissors to cut off the fabric, foam padding and harness straps from the seat. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove as much metal as possible. Remove the car seat cover and any padding underneath it. Discard the fabric, foam padding, straps and mixed metal-plastic pieces and small plastic pieces.

What to do with expired plastic?

Discard the fabric, foam padding, straps and mixed metal-plastic pieces and small plastic pieces. Mark the plastic as expired or unsafe. Recycle the bulky plastic body and all-metal pieces.

When is the Target car seat trade in 2021?

Target car-seat trade-in event. From Monday, April 5, through Saturday, April 17, 2021, you can bring your old car seat to a participating Target store (which is most of them) and receive a coupon for 20 percent off a new seat, stroller, or select baby gear.

What is the Target Circle program?

The program, dubbed Target Circle has reportedly done this with 1,100,000 car seats, or more than 17 million pounds of plastic, since it began in 2016. So, keep your eyes peeled for trade-in events like this one.

What to do if your child can't use a car seat?

This is something that should have been done already, but when your child can no longer use a current car seat, make sure you check to see if the seat has been involved in any recalls. Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

What happens if you don't know what's happened to your car seat?

Buyers may not know what’s happened with a car seat. It could have been in an accident and sustained hidden damage that even you don’t know about. This means the seat may not offer adequate protection for a child. Car seats also have “expiration dates” posted on the seat label by the car seat manufacturer.

Can a second hand car seat be recalled?

Secondhand seats may also be missing important parts, or could have been recalled for a faulty design. Safety standards for car seats also become more stringent over time, and older car seats may not be in compliance. Even if the seat is in perfect condition, never has been in a recall, if you try to sell it, buyers will likely demand ...

Do car seats expire?

Car seats also have “expiration dates” posted on the seat label by the car seat manufacturer. These are a guide to the seat’s expected “useful life.”. In addition, over time, the plastic on car seat parts can weaken. Secondhand seats may also be missing important parts, or could have been recalled for a faulty design.