Car Seats Alternative ways to recycle Junk Pickup Consider donating car seats. Do not dispose of car seats in garbage bins at apartment or condominium complexes. They are too large. Alternative Ways to Recycle No Accidents, Not Expired? Donate You can donate a car seat, but only if it has never been in an accident, if it has not expired, and if the straps haven’t been chemically cleaned. Some donation centers will not accept car seats, so look for organizations that provide family services, like women’s shelters. Community Recycling Programs Recycle Your Car Seat has compiled a list of programs that recycle car seats in the United States, complete with instructions specific to each one. See a list of locations here. Target Car Seat Trade-In Program Target runs periodically car seat trade-in events. Guests who trade in their old car seats will receive a discount coupon for a new car seat or other select child equipment. Complete details can be found on Target’s website. Did You Know? The Damage Is There, Even When You Can't See It Car seat expiration dates (or 6 years, if unmarked) shouldn’t be overlooked. Even if the car seat doesn’t look damaged, the materials it’s made out of degrade over time, especially with regular exposure to UV light through car windows. Be careful when buying used: only accept a used car seat from someone you know and trust. Safe Trumps Green When buying a car seat, green isn’t always best. Experts don’t recommend buying used, even though it’s greener than buying new. Organic seat covers won’t shield your child from the toxic leaching of flame-retardant materials, either. Read here for EcoCenter’s toxicity breakdown on car seats.
