Where Can I Donate a Car Seat?

We receive this question frequently and know many people wonder what to do with used car seats, so we put together a resource for donating, giving, and recycling.

"I have children’s car seats to donate. Where could they be delivered? I would be happy to travel to a destination or they could be used in my area."

​Car seats are a challenge, to be sure, and any equipment for children has the same challenge due to the liability hazard it places on nonprofits. This question reflects a dedication to going a little above and beyond to make sure the items are reused - something that if we all did, would have a massive impact on waste and the planet.
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Can My Car Seat Be Donated?

​For car seats to be ever be considered for donation, a few key things need to be checked:

1. They can never have been in any kind of accident, not even a minor crash. See guidelines at NHTSA
2. Confirm there have't been any recalls. You can do a quick search to find out HERE
3. Check that they are not expired. This is typically 6-10 years depending on manufacturer and mode. The date is typically right on the car seat. Here is a link to Safe Convertable Car Seats that shows you where to find it.
4. It is completely clean, and in like-new condition, with no missing, worn, or broken parts including buckles, straps, fabric padding, etc.

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Where Can I Donate My Car Seat?

Even after you are certain of the 4 criteria for donating, there are still very few nonprofits where you can donate. Even organizations that might consider them often don't because donors may not check the safety and quality criteria and drop off items that are unusable. They then become a burden that organizations have no capacity to manage, and cost not only extra time, but money to recycle. 

However, there are generally always a few that will take good, usable car seats, even if they don't publicly share the information. Sometimes it takes a bit of searching and reaching out to people individually, so they can trust that the car seat donation will be clean and safe.

Who may take car seat donations?

•  Women or Family Shelters
•  Churches or church-related organizations
•  Child passenger safety technicians (CPST) - for demonstrations
• Organizations that conduct parenting classes - they also may be able to take your seat for demonstrations and classes.
•  Pregnancy resource centers
• Check your local nonprofit listings on Donate Good Stuff.

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Can I Give My Car Seat Away?

​One way to find people and organizations that might need your car set is to post it to your neighborhood group on Facebook, NextDoor or other connection group, or even just ask around. Often friends and family are a best source because they know you and everyone involved can feel comfortable that it is safe and clean.

Here are some options to offer it on local social media groups: 

• On Facebook:
  • BuyNothing neighborhood group 
  • Zero Waste groups
  • Local Buy, Sell Trade, such as the Minneapolis & St. Paul group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/390596084622463/
• NextDoor App: NextDoor.com is another platform you can post on, just to your local neighborhood.

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Where and How Can I Recycle My Car Seat?

If they are expired, were in an accident, or recalled, they can be recycled.  
Keep in mind that they are a lot of work to recycle in that they are made from a large number of different materials, so it takes a fair bit of work for companies that specialize in this. Unfortunately, just throwing them out creates large plastic waste that can last 1000 years in a landfill. Hopefully, manufacturers of the future will keep this in mind and do better with designs that can more easily be broken down and reused or recycled better.

Here is a list of options to check out for recycling:

1. Target Hosts free trade-in events for old, used or broken seats and gives you a coupon for new purchases. The current event is on until Saturday, April 29th, 2023, but they usually have two events per year in April and September. 
2. Some Vietnam Veterans of America organizations may take them. You can check with your local office
3. Check with your County Waste & Recycling office for recycling options.
4. Clek - They partner with Car Seat Recycling and also offer coupons and discounts for participating in their program.
5. Century: The company used to partner with Terracycle, but as of this writing, that program is not active.
6. Car Seat Recycling - This is a sustainable company that has a mail-in option and will recycle car seats starting at $40 
7. Terracycle -  There is a cost for this option starting at $127. Not only can you send in a car seat, you can mail back a whole box of baby items, or even a pallet of stuff.
8. Finally, here is a General Resource for car seat recycling programs with a list by state of some additional possibilities.

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What Else Can I Do With My Car Seat?

Finally, if you must dispose of it, here are some guidelines to consider:

• Always cut the straps so someone cannot accidentally use an unsafe car seat.
• Remove the fabric and padding - recycle these with textiles
• Remove all the metal parts and recycle separately. 
• It is best to label the seat with permanent marker or attached sign that says 'not for use'

Car Seats for the Littles has a good, short article about this and how to mark and dispose of car seats.

What about Other Baby Items?

For cribs and other baby items with safety regulations, it's sort of the same thing. Check the manufacturer for any recalls/issues, and if they meet current safety standards, can be donated. The same challenges are associated with cribs due to child safety and liability hazards for the nonprofits. Again, the best way might be to reach out directly to people - family, friends, and your local neighbors for places and people that need them.
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Donate Good Stuff exists to help you find the best home for your donation items and we recognize it's just part of the challenge of having too much stuff. How do you declutter what you have, reduce the amount of stuff you bring into your home, and continue to move toward sustainable and environmentally kind living? We can help with that, too. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our newsletter for regular tips and creative ideas for managing your stuff, reducing waste, sustainable living, and being part of a connected community.
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If you enjoyed this article and appreciate Donate Good Stuff's interactive search, we appreciate any size contribution. We exist because of generous donors like you. Donate Here

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