Recycling Car Seats - A Green Idea

Car seats can be green - not just the color of the fabric, and not because your child ate peas for lunch! These days environmentally savvy parents want to do more than just throw their old car seats into the garbage dump. Many of the parts can be recycled, especially the plastic. Here are a few options for disposing of your child restraint:

1. Donate

First thing to consider is donating the seat to your local Child Passenger Safety Instructor or Safekids Coalition. Your used seat could be used as a demo seat during certification classes, or by an instructor when teaching a prenatal class or Mommy And Me class. Another option is to give it to friend or family member. Note: you can do this only if it has never been in a crash, has not expired, and has been stored properly when not in regular use.

2. Recycle

Here are recycling options for different regions:

Portland, OR area: Legacy Health provides a recycling program with several drop-off locations. They have also partnered with Fix Auto.

Utah: The Salt Lake Valley Heath Department has developed a program for recycling car seats. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit their website for more information.

Colorado: Colorado began its program in 2002. Information for the recycling program can be found at carseatprogram.com.

Over on the other side of the country –

Michigan: Recycle Ann Arbor recycles seats for a $3 fee. The seat must be stripped as seen here. For more information, contact:
Recycle Ann Arbor
2420 South Industrial Highway
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 662-6288
Fax: (734) 662-7749
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Indianapolis: Services for recycling car seats can be found at recycleforce.org.

Texas: One of our customers in Round Rock, TX has a Renew program. BabyEarth offers a coupon for doing a good deed such as recycling. Visit their website for more information.

3. Transform

Lastly, but certainly not least, is a creative CPS Technician who puts her talents to work not just teaching care givers about safety, but by creating bags, purses and hats from car seat parts! You may contact her via her Facebook page.

To find something closer to your home, simply do a web search to find numerous resources. And it goes without saying: don't just leave the seat at the curb. By the way, child restraint manufacturers never use recycled parts for critical safety parts on their car seats.