How to Dispose of a Car Seat

Using specialized car seats while transporting your children in your vehicle is essential for keeping your kids safe while in the car. Once a car seat is no longer fully operational for one reason or another, though, it's important that you dispose of the car seat properly. The last thing you want is for another person to take your old car seat, use it and then have a child injured in a crash. Use these tips for disposing of a car seat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use a pair of scissors to cut all of the straps or belts found on the car seat. Once you do this, you should be able to pull the straps or belts completely out of the seat. Once you have done, cut them up into smaller pieces. These can be placed in your normal, everyday garbage bag.

2. Unscrew any covers or shields that may be found on the car seat. This will simply be disposing the car seat an easier process.

3. Remove all of the fabric from the car seat. You should be able to simply pull the fabric off of the seat. If not, though, you can use a knife of a pair of scissors to do this. Once you've removed the fabric, cut the fabric into a couple of pieces. You can also throw these pieces away in a standard garbage bag.

4. Break apart the chair using a hammer. You can actually have some fun or take out some frustration while doing this. The point of breaking the chair apart with a hammer is to ensure that it is no longer usable. If you want, feel free to use a sledgehammer (although this isn't necessary as a standard hammer will do the trick).

5. Place all of the plastic parts into a black garbage bag.

6. Carry your garbage out right as the truck comes to your house or apartment if possible. This will make sure that no "dumpster divers" come upon your old car seat.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider calling a recycling center regarding the plastic parts of your car seat. They may take these parts off of your hands. Call a local high school or fire department about donating your car seat. These places use old car seats to teach people the proper way to install and use car seats. By giving a car seat to one of these places, you will know that the seat is still being used but won't have to worry about a child's safety

[squishdoll]

on 10/11/2009 If you live in the So Cal area there is an org called Disposal Alternatives that recycles all kinds of kid stuff including car seats. They also accept toys, stuffed animals ect...
I think thier website is still under construction but it is loacted at disposalalternatives.com