Another question about used car seats- recycle?

[sparklett]

The thread about used car seats prompted me to ask this question: if you don't give your used car seat to someone else, what else can be done with it? Can they be recycled? Is there some sort of nonprofit that ships them to other places where they would be needed? We're going to keep our car seat for babe #2, but after that, I'd hate for it to go to a landfill.

[alegna]

As far as I know there is no way to recycle any part sadly. When you get rid of an expired seat you should cut the straps and bash and break apart the shell so that no one else can use it.

-Angela

[AuntLavender]

I use mine so long they aren't fit for giving away

I have 4 children. My 11 1/2 and 10 1/2 yo are out of booster seats but my 8 1/2 yo is still in one since she's only 55 pounds. My almost 5yo is still in one since he is only 40 pounds.

Seriously my carseats are 12 years old before they cannot be passed down anymore and I think you aren't supposed to use them for that long anyway. Unless you live in a car-sentric culture like the USA there isn't a need for them anyway.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by AuntLavender

Seriously my carseats are 12 years old before they cannot be passed down anymore and I think you aren't supposed to use them for that long anyway. Unless you live in a car-sentric culture like the USA there isn't a need for them anyway.

Carseats are dangerous to use past expiration. Please don't do this.

Most carseats expire after 6 years.

-Angela

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by alegna

Carseats are dangerous to use past expiration. Please don't do this.

Most carseats expire after 6 years.

-Angela

Why is that, exactly? I've always heard that, but never knew why. Is it something to do with the plastic breaking down, maybe?

[PassionateWriter]

the plastic breaks down after 6 years for most seats (9 for the Frontier). its dangerous to allow any kid to use the seat after that, whether in the USA or elsewhere.

i WISH ppl were obsessed about car seats here...there may be laws but the majority of seats are being used improperly.

[JBaxter]

Originally Posted by Mrs-Mama

Why is that, exactly? I've always heard that, but never knew why. Is it something to do with the plastic breaking down, maybe?

extremes in temps both hot and cold cause stresses in the plastics causing it to become weaker. You wouldn't necessarily know you have a weakened car seat UNTIL you have a accident which is when you need the protection. Most carseats expire after 6 yrs. I reuse and recycle alot but carseats arent one.

[AuntLavender]

That is interesting about car seats expiring

because I am looking at the owner's manual and there is NOTHING in there about expiration.

I live in Central FL where the heat and humidity are practically unparalleled so I know my plastic has aged! (Paint companies test their paint by painting wood and leaving it outdoors here in FL because our environment is so harsh!)

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4

http://babyproducts.about.com/b/2006...ats-expire.htm

"...yes, car seats do expire. In fact, most car seats have an expiration date on one of the manufacturer labels that can be found on the sides or bottom of the car seat. To find out if a car seat is expired, you should look for that expiration date label first..."

"...If there's no expiration date listed, use the date of manufacture and consult the car seat owners' manual. Many manufacturers give a maximum car seat life in the manual. If not, call the manufacturer and ask..."

"...A few car seat manufacturers allow 10 years of life for their car seats, but unless you have specific directions from the manufacturer, the car seat label or the manual that state otherwise, you should stop using a car seat after 6 years..."

[alegna]

Originally Posted by AuntLavender

because I am looking at the owner's manual and there is NOTHING in there about expiration.

It says it somewhere. If you'll post what seat it is I bet a tech can tell you what page it's on.

-Angela

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by AuntLavender

because I am looking at the owner's manual and there is NOTHING in there about expiration.

I live in Central FL where the heat and humidity are practically unparalleled so I know my plastic has aged! (Paint companies test their paint by painting wood and leaving it outdoors here in FL because our environment is so harsh!)

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4

http://babyproducts.about.com/b/2006...ats-expire.htm

"...yes, car seats do expire. In fact, most car seats have an expiration date on one of the manufacturer labels that can be found on the sides or bottom of the car seat. To find out if a car seat is expired, you should look for that expiration date label first..."

"...If there's no expiration date listed, use the date of manufacture and consult the car seat owners' manual. Many manufacturers give a maximum car seat life in the manual. If not, call the manufacturer and ask..."

"...A few car seat manufacturers allow 10 years of life for their car seats, but unless you have specific directions from the manufacturer, the car seat label or the manual that state otherwise, you should stop using a car seat after 6 years..."

i dont know of any 10 year expiration dates....what seat do you have? there is an expiration on ALL seats.

[PassionateWriter]

http://blog.safetysquad.com/safety_s...-car-seat.html

[sparklett]

I totally get the reasoning behind not reusing a car seat, but why can't the plastic and/or foam be recycled into something else, instead of the seat going into a land fill? It just seems like that's a HUGE amount of waste ending up in landfills when they can potentially be recycled. I know- the energy costs of recycling often negate the benefit of recycling, but in this case, to prevent such a large number of such bulky objects from entering a landfill would seem to justify the energy cost (?).

[AngelBee]

: Looking for recycling options.

[PassionateWriter]

im a HUGE environmentalist (above everything else i do that is in line w/ this board) but unfortunately, i think the fact that the plastic breaks down and is unsafe to use is why the car seat manuf's dont recycle them. could they be used to recycle into something else? more than likely...but someone would have to intiate such a program and until they do, i dont think car seats are the biggest issue for landfills (considering they are used for approx. 6 years).

[AuntLavender]

My oldest booster seat is from 2002 and there is NO EXPIRATION DATE ON IT

but there is a DATE OF MANUFACTURE on it.

I went out and bought a new booster seat and it has both dates on it. I think in 2002 they didn't include the date of expiration.

Of course I can add 6 to the date to get the date of expiration but it was not preprinted for my convenience.

I googled and googled but couldn't find any carseat that advertises it lasts 10 years. My youngest is 5 so I don't need one that would last that long but I was curious to know. I couldn't find that information. I just found places that mentioned some carseats last ten years in a general information paragraph not a specific brand.

[PassionateWriter]

there is one car seat that lasts 9 years (the Frontier) but that just came out.

each manufacturer is different. if you dont have the manual, you can call the manufacturer and ask what the life span of the car seat is and then go by the DOM to determine expiration. I agree that it should be clearly stated.

[jadekat]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

i WISH ppl were obsessed about car seats here...there may be laws but the majority of seats are being used improperly.

Or not at all!: Where I live most of the kids I see in cars are either buckled in improperly(not in a booster I might add) or NOT AT ALL! This makes me so angry!:

[hottmama]

Radians also have a longer life-- 8 years instead of 6.

[sparklett]

I guess recycling is possible!!!! I just found that Colorado has a recycling program: http://www.carseatprogram.com/car-se...g-program.html. Enviromom is also talking about car seat recycling as well.

[lifeguard]

Interesting thread. I have been debating with myself whether it is worth the expense of buying one of the new 3-in-1 seats for the baby when i know I can get all "3" for less second hand. I think this is one purchase I'm just going to splurge on - sounds like at least that way I'll get my 6 years out of it.

Maybe by then they'll be recyclable.