Car Seats Alternative ways to recycle Trash Container Bulky Item Pickup If you use Bulky Item services, that will go to landfill. If you have an expired car seat but looking to recycle it, you can drop it off at the following: NOTE: Target Car SeatTrade-In Event: Annual event held in September OR Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Click here for Map, Phone Number & DirectionsCar seats can be dropped off at the main entrance of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. No cost. There are special instructions to prep the seat: Please cut off harness straps, top tether straps, LATCH straps and strip the seat down to its bare shell. You can dispose of straps and fabric at home and only drop off shells in the bin. For any questions, text or call: 323-203-7688 ———————————————————————————— Scroll down for more recycling drop off options http://recycleyourcarseat.org/ https://saferide4kids.com/blog/recycle-car-seats-saving-kids-earth/ 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. Clek Recycling Program You can recycle Clek car seats for a $40 fee, which Clek will give back to you in store credit. Contact their customer service to receive a UPS label, ship your seat and shop online to replace it. Find out more 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.
