Why recycle your car seat?

There are lots positive environmental and social outcomes from recycling your seat:
– Diverting tonnes of plastic and metal from landfill each year;
– Providing dismantling work for people who have a disability, or are disadvantage or marginalised;
– Improving child safety by raising awareness of seat expiry dates;
– Lowering the use of virgin materials to make new plastic and metal; and
– Providing used materials to be repurposed into new items.

Who dismantles your seats?

We aim to maximise the social benefit of recycling through our dismantling process.  Due to the volumes and the growing complexity of the seats we get through the programme, a mix of dismantling services are required:
– 3R Group – 3R are the founders and operators of SeatSmart. Our staff regularly do the ‘heavy lifting’ on the dismantling (using power tools, etc.); and
– Social Enterprises – paid and unpaid services that provide employment or work experience for people who have a disability or are disadvantaged or marginalised.

Is there a cost to recycle?

Fees vary across the country thanks to support from some local councils and retailers.  These fees range from $0 (free) to $35 per seat and cover the costs of collection, dismantling and recycling.

Fees are charged per seat at the collection site, so check out your local site.

Insurance – there are no fees for IAG referrals (AMI, State, etc).

Check fee in your area

What seats are accepted?

Any brand of booster, convertible seat or capsule.  Sorry, no polystyrene seats, snap and go’s or other car seat accessories are accepted.

Collection sites have the right to reject mouldy seats as these can contaminate other seats and are a potential health risk.

Collection sites

What materials are in the seats?

Up to 67% of seat materials (by weight) are recyclable.

Plastic, metal, harnesses – they can all have a second life.

What happens to them?

Should I consider a second-hand car seat?

The issue of using a second-hand car seat is a tricky one.  We found some useful information from NZTA which can help if you are considering buying or borrowing one.

NZTA advice on second-hand seats

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