Also, make sure that the car has not expired and hasnt been recalled. But most of them require more work than you might expect. Very old seats should also be recycled instead of donated. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider. Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. You can give away or sell a used seat, but it better be in near-perfect condition. However, you may still find that some organizations accept them. Its also good to make sure your car seat hasnt been recalled. Most places are really picky about used car seats even if theyre still in excellent condition. While most seats can be reused after a minor fender bender, the NHTSA recommends disposing of your car seat if it has been involved in a collision where airbags have deployed, the seat or the nearest door were damaged, personal injuries were sustained, or the vehicle required towing. When donating, you may be tempted to give the car seat a deep cleaning, but do so with caution! The seat shouldnt be under recall. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Youll want to hand over the manual to the seat if you happen to have it. To find out if your car seat qualifies for reuse, answer the questions on Consumer Reports website. If the car seat is expired, it shouldnt be used again with a child in it. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Cut the harness straps out of the seat. Its important to take extra care when using a secondhand car seat. I felt better about our weak performance after I talked to Walker: Ive been at [disposal] events through the years where somebody has piled the car seats in a really big heap and then they take an earth mover and try and crush themsometimes it takes this earth mover going over it three or four times to break the molds on these car seats.. Depending on which removal method you choose, you can save time or moneybut not bothwhen treating a case of head lice.
TerraCycle also partners with a range of companies for free recycling programs for packaging, like snack bags and toothpaste tubes. Car seat expiration dates are put into place to give you an idea of the seats lifespan.
That said, here are a few things you can do to end that expired car seats life nicely. Hypothetically, I asked, If I put the stripped car seat shells out with the rest of my recycling, would they be recycled? The definitive school supply list for every grade.
This is why we have compiled a list of organizations that accept seats after thoroughly checking them physically and their history and distribute them to people in need. However, if youre using it again for your own family, it may be fine. But before we get into that, lets talk about what you shouldnt do with a car seat: donate or sell it if the car seat is expired, has been recalled, or has been in an accident. Credit: Getty Images / Fly View Productions, Credit: Getty Images / sergeyryzhov, Credit: Getty Images / HStarr. Unlike a lot of other baby products, car seats expire and the wear and tear that can be overlooked with other baby items suddenly become a major safety issue where car seats are concerned. Unfortunately, there is a caveat here too; recycling car seats doesnt make sense economically. If the seat isnt fit for donating, you dont want another family nabbing it. These trade-in events allow you to bring in an old or unusable car seat and get a coupon in return. Basically, make it unusable. They accept. You can check for any current recalls here.
Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). 6201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 220, Falls Church, VA, 703-538-4305, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Arkansas, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in California, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Colorado, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Connecticut, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Illinois, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Kentucky, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Maryland, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Massachusetts, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Michigan, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Minnesota, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Missouri, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Nebraska, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in New Hampshire, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in New Jersey, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in New Mexico, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in New York, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in North Carolina, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in North Dakota, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Oklahoma, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Pennsylvania, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Rhode Island, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Tennessee, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Virginia, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Washington, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in West Virginia, Car Seat Recycling & Donation in Wisconsin, How To Recycle Your Old Child Car Seat by Earth911TV, recycle an infant seat or a convertible seat, Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County, Harford Waste Disposal Center Recycling Station, ARL Residents' Convenience Center Rigid Plastics area, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, Safe Kids Salt Lake County Car Seat Recycling Initiative, Give the used car seat to friends or family. Car seat plastic can take anywhere from 100 to 1000 years to decompose.
For instance, Target paid TerraCycle to recycle the car seats from its two trade-in programs in 2017. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. There are a few good answers when trying to figure out what to do with old car seats. Everything you need to know about cleaning and renewing your vehicle inside and out. In Connecticut, every municipality has a local recycling contact. To find the expiration date on the car seat, just flip it over and look on the back or on the bottom. Maybe you should change your list to places to DONATE. Bring any used, damaged, or expired car seat and get a coupon for 20% off select baby items, including new car seats, strollers, and more. 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. Rather than opting to throw the old car seat in the trash, you can choose to recycle it yourself. If it is, then get to it! Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. The only way I see that car seats would be recycled by a municipality is if theyre going to cherry pick the parts of the car seat that are valuable or have any value to them once theyre separated, said Brett Stevens, vice president of material sales and procurement at TerraCycle. The next owners should be able to talk with you, ideally in person, about the seats history. Metal is recyclable. Not only do you get to get rid of your old car seat, but you get a good deal on an upgrade for your child, too. The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol has teamed up with All Recycling to create a recycling program for car seats. Its also important to disclose the history of the seat. Consult your user manual to determine the best way to clean your car seat. Its a noble effort. Trade-in events are definitely the most convenient option and we recommend this the most. If you do find that the car seat is expired or its been in a moderate to severe car crash, there are still things you can do. Car seats are challenging to recycle because theyre made of so many materials, which need to be separated for individual waste streams. Theyre also tough to get rid of since theyre often quite expensive. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Car seats are the most effective way to save lives; they reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4. By recycling, youre ensuring that your old car seat doesnt take up unnecessary space at the dump. Ask Wirecutter: How Should I Clear the Piles of Dangerous Snow Off My Car? Some partners, like TerraCycle, will recycle the entire seat (including the foam and fabric covers), others recycle only the most valuable materials (usually the metal and some of the plastic). Before putting my daughters seats on the curb, I followed advice Id read on the Internet and broke the shells apart as much as possible. Have you caught the spring cleaning bug and now youre not sure what to do with your childs old car seat? We might very well be saving our children now and destroying the planet for future generations.
Beyond the point of sustainability, recycling your child's old car seat is also a far safer disposal option than tossing it in the trash. If they do, here is what you should do: If for some reason the seat cant be recycled, donated, or traded in, it can be thrown away with the trash. Recycle the bulky plastic body and all-metal pieces.
Proceeds from the sale of donated items support Animal Lifeline, a special-needs no-kill animal shelter. The Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats, certifies Child Passenger Safety technicians, According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Lorrie Walker, training manager and technical advisor for the Buckle Up Program at Safe Kids Worldwide (which certifies Child Passenger Safety technicians), told me the seat should meet the following criteria: It should be within the expiration date. Im a research nerd whos on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids starting with car seats!
A rep from Target told me the company recycled nearly 80,000 seats, equaling over one million pounds, during one event alone.
To donate, contact Ruth Meyer at 615-418-2088. Consumer Reports compiled the following list of tips from the recycling program in Ann Arbor, Michigan: Theres one more option for the truly dedicated environmentalists out there: You can pay Terracycle to recycle your car seat and other baby gear. Our kids outgrow their baby gear almost as fast as we buy it.
SheKnows is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Learn more. WeeCycle is a nonprofit organization serving the Denver metro area. In some states, yes, an old car seat or booster seat can go right to your local recycling center. Our purpose in the household donations program is to raise funds for our mission of supporting veterans, states their website. Get the best deals and the best advice dropped right in your inbox. Target often announces these events on their website when theyre expected to occur. They, Child Link strives to make human services available to all children and youth who need support. They. As it turns out, there are a ton of different routes to take. This April 22 through May 5, Target will host itsfirst trade-in program of 2018, this time partnered with a company called Waste Management. Their first event happened in 2019, but theyve continued to sponsor it. There are a few deciding factors on the various things you can do and a lot of it will depend on the seats condition and expiration date. Dont be the person with chunks of snow and ice missiles flying off the roof of your car. Ideally, the safety manual and registration card should be included, though if youve lost the original manual most car seat manufacturers have PDF versions online. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The program has reportedly done this with 1,100,000 car seats, or more than 17 million pounds of plastic, since it began in 2016. This presents a recurring dilemma: What do parents do with their old car seats when theyre done with them especially if theyve reached that all-important, not-to-be-ignored expiration date? 2022 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. Some retailers just send them to a landfill.
I quickly got a response from Vito Turso, a deputy commissioner at the department: We accept all rigid plastics for recycling, so I think you can say yes.. Target and other stores periodically host events where you can bring in your old seat and receive a coupon toward your next purchase. There is no time like the present to take advantage of these programs.
The problem of getting rid of big, bulky gear (or other similar home goods) isnt unique to car seats. Contact Heather Smith at (501) 231-0304. All Rights Reserved. Donating a car seat seems like a very reasonable idea; why throw something when it is in perfect working condition and can be used by one of the many parents who cant afford it, right? It should be from the original owner and never have been in a moderate to serious crash. This is not an inexpensive solution, but we are at the whims of manufacturers and recycling plants. Animal Lifeline Thrift Shop: Drop items off at Southwest Ninth Street and Park Avenue in Des Moines, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. This is something that you, as a parent, should be fully aware of even when actively using the car seat. However, youll want to be open and honest about it. With two kids of my own, Im passionate about child safety! But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. When you shop through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. At a loss for better options, my husband and I tore our car seats apart, as best we could, and put the exoskeleton-like shells out with the recycling bags on the curb, hoping for the best. When I started searching for a convertible car seat I was overwhelmed by the choices out there. After extensive research and field-testing of eight models, we found that the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is the best infant car seat for most families. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove as much metal as possible. Pregnancy Centers are always in need of baby items such as car seats. What happens to the seats after the trade-in depends on the retailer and which disposal company it has partnered with. If youre not donating it, heres how to recycle it properly. Youll want to contact the Department of Transportation in your state to see if theres a proper car seat recycling program.
Some towns have an employee whose primary responsibility is to manage the local recycling program; others designate a public official or town commission member to fulfill this role. Discard the fabric, foam padding, straps, and mixed metal-plastic pieces and small plastic pieces. To use the coupon, youll need to enroll in the free Target Circle rewards program (you can sign up there or just go here to create an account).
While trying to figure out what to do with old car seats, you might not think of the number one solution recycling. So, its good to know that recycling this plastic can give it a second life. Walker recommends the new owners also register the seat to receive updates on recalls, which can be done with the registration card (if you still have it) or through theNHTSA. Instead of tossing your old car seat try these tips instead. They might know any place that recycles car seats in or around your place. Other manufacturers may print it inside the instruction manual. The plastic used in making these seats often lasts anywhere between six and 10 years before starting to get unpredictable. After seeking the advice of a child-passenger safety expert, a specialty recycler, and my local department of sanitation, I determined the best practices for donating and recycling a seat. Sadly, many charities dont agree; they dont accept used car seats because its hard to be sure about the history of seats and they arent willing to take the risk. But, its important to find the solution that works best for you. All rights reserved. You should also be sure to register the seat so you can be informed of any recalls. But like anything, the components of the seats can wear out over time. Having said that, we've also done the research to compile a list of places that do recycle car seats in the US. Target's car seat trade-in event is taking place this year from April 18 to 22. Another option is car seat recycling. (Plus, its just the polite thing to do.). 2022 SheMedia, LLC. When your baby needs a new car seat, it can be a challenge to figure out what to do with your old one. Target offers 20 percent off a new car seat, stroller, or other piece of baby gear, when you trade in. The expiration date is usually either printed on a sticker or embossed into the plastic. If you do need to send the car seat to a landfill, take it apart first (again, you dont want a family mistaking it for a giveaway and using it). Corporate subsidies allow TerraCycle to recycle less-profitable parts. From Sunday, Sept. 12 to Saturday, Sept. 25, you can head to a participating Target store (which is most of them) to trade in your old car seats and receive a coupon for 20 percent off a new car seat, stroller, or select baby gear. But considering that most kids will go through three before they turn 11, and the safety issues involved with handing them down, car seats pose a pretty significant disposal issue. Car seats have expiration dates, which might make some parents suspicious that manufacturers are just trying to make us buy more stuff. Convertible seats (we recommend Britaxs Marathon ClickTight) expire after about 10 years. In practice, I found this to be backbreaking work that most people probably wont hassle with. Recalled seats are deemed to be unsafe by the NHTSA. Another option is TerraCycle's Baby Gear Zero Waste Box. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Be sure to check the integrity of your child's car seat before donating. So, keep your eyes peeled for trade-in events like this one. Their wish list includes new car seats; if you have a car seat that hasnt been used or you would like to donate a new car seat. You can order a car seat recycling kit from CarSeatRecycling.com and, in exchange, get a 10%-off coupon to be used at any time at Clek. (701) 328-4533 Please call to find a drop-site near you. Sometimes, even if you no longer have a use for something, it can be hard to let go, but this is not quite the same as just deciding to declutter your home and organize your garage.
If youre in a household with multiple children, your garage might be stuffed with old car seats with no place to go. Washing the interiors is also a good move to help prevent the passing of any germs. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Remove the car seat cover and any padding underneath it. Therefore, cost-benefit decisions need to be made. The program helps assist all veterans along with their families and has been going strong since 1979. Many of the recall items are generally fixable at home, theyre not difficult to do, said Walker. She has a passion for all things related to child safety. According to their website, were ranked Number One in the State for ensuring that the children in their care are placed into permanent homes with loving families. Below you'll find the Web's most comprehensive list of organizations in every US state where you can donate a car seat and recycle a car seat. Bottom line, by recycling, donating, or trading in your old car seats, you help to keep roughly 180 million pounds of valuable material out of landfills each year. The best thing to do is to call Walmart and see if your local branch is offering the program.
Personally, we dont recommend the reselling or purchasing of used car seats because you cant be 100 percent sure of the quality.
SafeConvertibleCarSeats.com is reader-supported. Ways to Keep Your Childs Car Seat Cool in the Summer. Car seats can be dropped off at the main entrance of, Yolo County Health and Human Services have partnered with the Davis Waste Removal Company to offer an alternative to handing down unsafe car seats or throwing away car seats that are no longer being used. That's a lot of plastic and cloth taking up space at the dump. Youll have to check in beforehand before dropping anything off, just to make sure theyre still accepted. None of the local waste management and recycling programs recycle baby gear specifically. You should first call your local recycling center to see if they accept plastics from old car seats. Once a car seats been in a crash, much like a bike helmet or a motorcycle helmet, its no good, said Walker.
Oftentimes, theyll also give you a discount for your trade-in, making it a great deal for parents looking to replace their seats with something new. The last thing you want to do is risk another childs life. , People in Arizona can donate their gently used car seats to the. Nurture Omaha will recycle your car seat. We researched over 50 booster car seats and tested 12, and we found the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus performed the best and is convenient to use. Were going to cover everything you need to know and more in this article.
Your local recycling center doesn't take car seats, and you missed the Target trade-in event.
In both cases, you'll have to pay to receive a recycling kit or box; the cost will include a shipping label and the processing of your old car seat. Last January, I needed to get rid of two car seats that my girls had outgrown. Walker told me a nightmare story about a child who was ejected from a car seat that the parents had bought at a yard sale. Thankfully there are options for clearing out your car seat clutter without tossing them into the landfill. There are, however, a few guidelines to follow before doing so. And sure, throwing it away seems the easiest option, but its certainly not the most earth-friendly and luckily, there are better options for what to do with old car seats: recycling and trade-in programs. You can determine if your car seat has been recalled by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and entering the brand name and model of your car seat. More information, You can also donate your Infant Car Seats with Base (less than five years old) and Toddler Car Seats (less than five years old) to. Target and Walmart host car seat trade-in events twice a year where your old car seat can be converted into a gift card or a store coupon. To volunteer to work at the closet, contact Ruth Meyer at ruthammeyer@gmail.com or 615-418-2087. The Vietnam Veterans of America is an incredible organization that will happily pick up most items, with car seats often being on the list. Even worse, some people in need might try to visit a dump if they need a car seat. Those who wish to partake often get a gift card in return typically, its for $30 but thats subject to change, especially based on location.
Youll have to buy a shipping label from the site for $35.99-$49.99, which comes with a custom shipping and recycling bag to send the car seat back to them. Remember, its likely those seats ended up there because theyre no longer up to code. You may instead just want to hold onto that seat until the next free car-seat trade-in program next year. A recalled car seat should be immediately disposed of and should not be donated, sold, or passed down under any circumstances. As you would if recycling the shell, cut off all the straps, buckles, and harnesses. As far as we can see, the only store that still does this is Target, but there may be others. The facility's car seat recycling program may require you to completely break the seat down.
Many children's hospitals and hospitals with maternity wards will accept car seat donations, providing your car seat is in good working order. Recycling ensures that its shelf life ends when it's no longer usable. Advice, staff picks, mythbusting, and more. Be upfront about the condition of the seat so they know what theyre receiving. Determine if it has any tears or cracks and verify that it has never been in a major accident.
Here are some starting points to gett you on the right track.
Trade-in events can help you dispose of old car seats and can even give you money to buy a new booster. To contact me directly please click here. 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. They started this program in 2016 and its gained major popularity since then. As for my daughters car seats, I tried to investigate their fate by emailing the NYC Department of Sanitations press office. In your list of places to RECYCLE a car seat (in Oklahoma) the only places listed are placed that will take donations of new or unexpired car seats. If a program doesnt exist near you, you can still recycle as much of the seat as you can yourself. They accept gently used clothes from birth-teens and baby items such as cribs, car seats, strollers, and bedding. There are a couple of recycling options in Minnesota:, How to Get a Free Car Seat from Medicaid: Tips for Low-Income Families, How to Choose a Convertible Car Seat (2022): Complete Guide for New Parents, Safest Infant Car Seat (2022): Safety Ratings & Crash Test Results for 15 Best Infant Car Seats, Best Convertible Car Seats for Newborns: Our 4 Top Picks (2022), Best Convertible Car Seat for Small Cars (2022): The Top Model for Every Need, Safest Convertible Car Seat (2022): 30 Best Convertible Car Seats (with Safety Ratings). All old car seats traded in at Target are recycled and turned into different products like pallets, buckets, and construction materials (2).
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