When our daughter outgrew her infant carrier and we switched to a convertible seat, I was left with a perfectly good car seat that nobody in our circle needed and a nagging guilt about tossing it in the trash. That’s when I discovered car seat trade-in programs — and realized you can recycle your old seat responsibly while getting a discount on new baby gear. Here’s a complete breakdown of the best programs available in 2026, how they work, and when to use them.
View our lists of free car seat programs by type:
Why Trade In Instead of Throwing Away?
A single car seat contains around 10–15 pounds of mixed materials — polystyrene foam, steel and aluminum frames, fabric webbing, and various plastics. When thrown in the trash, these materials sit in landfills for decades. Trade-in and recycling programs break down these components and repurpose them, keeping millions of pounds of waste out of landfills each year. Since 2016, Target’s program alone has recycled over 2.8 million car seats. Plus, most programs give you a coupon or discount in return, which takes a real bite out of the cost of your next car seat.
1. Target Car Seat Trade-In Program
Target runs the largest and most accessible car seat trade-in program in the country. The program typically happens twice a year — once in the spring (usually April) and once in the fall (usually September) — for about two weeks each time. You bring your old car seat to any participating Target store, drop it in the designated collection box near Guest Services, and scan the QR code to receive a 20% off coupon for a new car seat, stroller, or select baby gear.
Target accepts virtually every type of seat: infant carriers, convertible seats, bases, booster seats, harness seats, and even expired or damaged seats. You don’t need a receipt or proof of purchase. The coupon typically expires about a month after you receive it and can be used in-store or online. Check Target’s website or the Target app for exact dates as the events approach. This is the program I recommend first to every parent because of its convenience and the generous discount.
2. Walmart Car Seat Recycling
Walmart hosted a major car seat trade-in event in 2019 in partnership with TerraCycle, offering $30 gift cards per seat. The response was so overwhelming they ended the event early. Since then, Walmart has not run a comparable standalone event, but they continue working with TerraCycle on recycling initiatives. Check Walmart’s website periodically for announcements of future events, and consider TerraCycle’s mail-in program (below) as an alternative year-round option.
3. TerraCycle Baby Gear Zero Waste Box
If you don’t want to wait for a seasonal event, TerraCycle offers a year-round mail-in option through their Baby Gear Zero Waste Box. You order a box ($116–$217 depending on size), fill it with old car seats, strollers, bassinets, diaper pails, and other baby gear (no diapers, electronics, fabric, or toys), and ship it to TerraCycle via UPS using the prepaid label included. They break down every component for recycling.
The cost makes this less practical for a single car seat, but if you’re clearing out a garage full of baby gear after your kids have aged out, the larger box can be cost-effective. TerraCycle also occasionally partners with local events and businesses for free drop-off recycling — check their website for collection events near you.
4. Clek Car Seat Recycling Program
If you own a Clek seat (Fllo, Foonf, or Oobr), Clek partners with CarSeatRecycling.com to offer a dedicated recycling program. Purchase a recycling kit from carseatrecycling.com, which includes a prepaid shipping label and a discount coupon (typically 10% off a $100+ purchase or $10 off $40+). Pack your Clek seat and drop it off at any UPS store. This program is ongoing with no seasonal restrictions, but it only accepts Clek-branded products.
When Should You Trade In or Replace Your Car Seat?
There are three situations where your car seat needs to go. First, your child has outgrown it — their head is within one inch of the top of the shell, or they’ve exceeded the height or weight limit. Second, the seat has expired — check the white label on the bottom or back for the expiration date or date of manufacture (most seats expire 6–10 years after manufacture). Third, the seat has been in a moderate to severe car crash. NHTSA recommends replacing any seat involved in a significant collision, even if it looks undamaged, because the internal structure may be compromised.
Signs your seat is unsafe: cracked plastic shell, frayed harness webbing, damaged or bent LATCH connectors, or crumbling polystyrene foam inside. If you notice any of these, retire the seat immediately. Don’t sell or donate a damaged or expired seat — recycling through one of the programs above is the responsible choice.
What About Donating Your Old Car Seat?
If your car seat is still within its expiration date, undamaged, and has never been in a crash, donating to a family in need is a wonderful option. Many local organizations, fire stations, and churches accept gently used seats. However, be cautious: you need to be confident the seat hasn’t been compromised. If there’s any doubt about the seat’s history or condition, recycling is the safer choice. Our guide to free car seat programs lists organizations that distribute seats to families who can’t afford them.
The Bottom Line
The Target Car Seat Trade-In is the best option for most families — it’s free, widely available, and gives you 20% off your next seat or stroller. Set a reminder for April and September to catch the events. For year-round recycling, TerraCycle’s mail-in program handles everything. And when you’re ready to pick out a replacement, check our best-rated convertible car seats, our best budget car seats, and our car seat safety guide for installation tips.
