Car seats

Most car seats have a six-year life span. Ultraviolet sunlight and temperature extremes break down the plastic and the harnesses, compromising safety.  That’s why experts say parents should never buy a used car seat. Unless you are  a specially trained engineer, who can check for stress points on any seat - you are totally relying on the "good faith" of a person that you get a seat from and trusting your child's life to that stranger. You should never give a used car seat to someone else. Instead of trying to reuse a car seat, recycle it. Car seats can be disassembled and the metal and plastic recycled; however, fiber materials or combinations of materials should go in trash.  For more information about recycling car seats visit Child Passenger Safety at Legacy Hospital.  For more information about the basics of car seat buying, installing, and using; you can register for a Car Seat Safety Class & Clinic at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center; contact information - call 360-450-8997 or e-mail dmgirt@comcast.net.

Recycle - Prior to recycling

• Remove and discard fabric and soft foam.
• Remove and discard harness webbing and mixed plastic/metal components
• Remove and discard any foam
• Recycle metal and paper curbside
• Take the plastic shell to one of the transfer stations listed below (FYI - if any metal, fiber or other materials are still on the plastic shell it will not be recycled but will be disposed of as garbage).

Central Transfer and Recycling Center
West Van Materials Recovery Center
Washougal Transfer Station