Recycling a car seat

LizD_2

Not sure where to post this, but I hope a BG can move it if necessary.

We were given our niece's old carseat (unsolicited) for our son, but I'm not comfortable using it as the model was retired in 2001 and I have read that it's not recommended to use car seats over 6 years old anyway. He does already have this size of car seat so we don't actually need another one.

I was wondering if there's anywhere to recycle car seats? I don't want to offer it on freecycle for the above reasons and I'd rather not just take it to the tip if there's an alternative.

Thanks.

Counting_Pennies_2

Car seats are the one thing you can't really hand on.

You can't be sure they haven't been in a crash, and all the safety aspects of second hand sales say you shouldn't sell/buy a second hand car seat.

I would suggest asking around if anyone wants a spare one, for local journeys when you have a friend to play, otherwise I would suggest a trip to the tip

LizD_2

Yes, I'm aware of that, which is why I don't want to freecycle it, although I do know that it's never been in an accident.

Tip it is then.

Newly_retired

I have a car seat that my youngest grandchild has now grown out of. I hate the thought of it just going to the tip. It has had little use, as I don't transport them on a regular basis. I thought I might offer it to some friends who have recently become grandparents.

Nicki

Do you feel comfortable with the seat being used by another child or not.

If not, then I don't think it is possible to recycle it's component parts and you just need to take it to the tip.

If yes, then you could offer it on free cycle, netmums, local nct website, or to a youth group, such as scouts, brownies, etc who might find an occasional use for it.

shelley_crow

What type of car seat are you talking about? My son was given a secondhand booster seat, he had one already. I re-covered the booster in funky fabric and he sits on it to boost him up at the dinnertable, it's come in very handy.

onlyroz

I think a 10+ year old second-hand car seat is best off in the tip.

lauren_1

It depends on the type of car seat, a booster seat (without a high back) I would have no issues reusing as basically its only function is to raise the height of the child and serves very little safety purpose in a crash (no head and side impact protection and the child is not strapped to it)

Anything that the child is strapped to or the seat has to serve a purpose such as SIP then I wouldn't touch with a barge pole given its age.

Basic booster seats have evolved very little since they were first available to buy but car seats aimed at birth to 4 years olds evolve all the time with better safety standards and better designs and I would certainly not use one that was over 4 years old even if the seat belonged to one of my other children first.

I did however buy a maxi cosi car seat and family fix base that was a year old from someone I knew so I am not against buying used seats, its just those that are so old they are about as safe as a chocolate fire guard.

LJM

i had mine bought for me from brand new then i passed it to a friend, who gave it back for my second child and she has used it again to. if it wasnt for the fact that we are very close that probably wouldnt happen.

Violetta_2

I think the op means recycle & not reuse which some people are focusing on, there may be a sign on the body of the carseast to show what material it is & if it can be recycled, maybe track down your local recycling yard & ask them for advice, you should be able to find it on your local councils website or there may be some info here .