Recycle an Old Child Safety Seat Without Passing an Unsafe Seat to Another Family
Child car seats are mixed-material safety products, so they usually cannot go into ordinary curbside recycling. In 2026, Target’s trade-in events provide a verified nationwide option during published event windows, while local waste programs can help when a retailer event is closed.
The safety decision comes first: check crash history, expiration information, recalls and missing parts before you donate, sell or reuse a seat instead of recycling it.
Fast answer
Target’s Fall 2026 Car Seat Trade-In runs September 20 through October 3, 2026. Target says guests can bring an old qualifying car seat to a participating store and receive one 20% off Target Circle Bonus toward eligible baby gear.
The bonus is valid through October 17, 2026 and can be redeemed twice. It is not a cash payment for the old seat.
Fall 2026 Target event dates
Trade-in window: September 20–October 3, 2026
Bonus: 20% off eligible baby gear
Bonus expiration: October 17, 2026
Redemption: Target says the bonus may be redeemed twice.
All Target stores participate except select small-format stores, according to Target’s current FAQ. Check your local store before loading a seat.
On this page
- What car seat recycling means
- Target drop-off steps
- 20% bonus rules
- Accepted seat types
- Find a participating store
- Target app troubleshooting
- Expired, crashed and recalled seats
- Crash replacement rules
- Used-seat safety check
- What to do outside the event
- Can it go in curbside recycling?
- Before-you-go checklist
- Official sources
- Nearby Target search
- FAQs
What “Car Seat Recycling Center” Usually Means
A child safety seat is not a simple plastic item. It combines a molded shell, foam, harness webbing, buckles, labels, padding and often metal reinforcement. That mixed construction is one reason a normal bottle-and-can recycling program may reject a complete seat.
For most U.S. households, the practical recycling routes are a retailer trade-in event, a local hard-to-recycle program, a county or city collection event, or another program that specifically lists child car seats.
Retail trade-in
Useful when a verified Target event is active and a participating store is nearby.
Local waste program
Check city or county guidance for hard-to-recycle items, bulky waste or special collection events.
Reuse only if safe
A seat should not be sold, donated or handed down merely because it looks clean.
How the Target Car Seat Trade-In Works in Fall 2026
Target’s current FAQ provides a simple in-store process. The key is to visit during the published event window and scan the trade-in sign into your Target Circle account.
Target Car Seat Trade-In Coupon: What the 20% Bonus Actually Means
The event does not pay cash for an old child safety seat. Target provides one 20% off Target Circle Bonus per Target Circle account after the trade-in process.
| Question | Current Target rule | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cash payment? | No cash payout is listed. | The value is a Target Circle discount. |
| Discount | 20% off eligible baby gear. | Check whether your intended product qualifies before assuming the final price. |
| Where usable? | In-store and online. | The offer is linked to Target Circle rather than a paper coupon. |
| How many times? | Redeemable twice. | The bonus remains in Wallet until used twice or it expires. |
| Expiration | October 17, 2026. | Trading in by October 3 does not mean you must purchase new gear the same day. |
| Exclusions | Target Plus items, UPPAbaby items and clearance are excluded in Target’s current FAQ. | Check the cart before relying on the discount. |
What can the bonus be used toward?
Target currently lists a new car seat, booster seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller and select baby home gear including playards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers and jumpers.
Which Old Car Seats Does Target Accept?
Target’s current FAQ says it accepts and recycles all types of car seats during the event, including expired and damaged seats.
Infant car seats
Rear-facing infant seats are included in Target’s accepted trade-in categories.
Convertible seats
Convertible car seats can be brought to the event for recycling.
Harness and booster seats
Target lists harness and booster car seats among accepted items.
Car seat bases
Separate car seat bases are expressly included in Target’s trade-in list.
Expired seats
An expired child restraint can be traded in instead of being passed to another family.
Damaged seats
Target lists damaged car seats as accepted. Do not reuse a damaged safety seat simply because the shell still looks usable.
How to Find a Participating Car Seat Drop-Off Near You
Target says all of its stores participate except select small-format stores. That still makes verification worthwhile, especially if your nearest location is a compact urban or other small-format store.
| Your search | Best next step | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Car seat recycling near me | Find a nearby Target during the event. | Store participation and current store hours. |
| Open today | Check both the event dates and store hours. | The event box is available near Guest Services. |
| Small Target store | Contact the store before visiting. | Whether the small-format location participates. |
| No Target nearby | Check official city or county waste guidance. | Whether whole child safety seats are accepted through a special program. |
Target Circle Bonus Not Showing? Check These Steps
Target’s current trade-in FAQ says guests scan a sign near the collection box into their Target Circle account. If the offer does not appear afterward, Target provides several troubleshooting steps.
Before drop-off
Sign into the correct Target Circle account on your mobile device before you scan the event sign.
After scanning
Refresh the Target app and navigate to your personal dashboard if the bonus is not immediately visible.
At checkout
Target instructs users to select the “Apply 20% Off” offer so the bonus is enabled in the cart or at checkout.
Expired, Damaged, Recalled and Crash-Involved Car Seats
Recycling decisions are closely tied to child-passenger safety. A car seat that looks clean can still be too old, recalled, missing critical parts or unsafe because of crash history.
| Seat condition | Before reuse | Safer decision when uncertain |
|---|---|---|
| Expired | Check the manufacturer’s stated expiration date or usable-life instructions. | Do not pass an expired seat to another child. |
| Moderate or severe crash | NHTSA recommends replacement. | Recycle or dispose of the seat through an approved route. |
| Minor crash | All NHTSA minor-crash criteria and manufacturer instructions must support continued use. | Do not guess if crash details are incomplete. |
| Recall | Check NHTSA and contact the manufacturer. | Some recalls have remedies; do not automatically discard or reuse without checking. |
| Missing parts | Contact the manufacturer and check the instruction manual. | Do not improvise replacement hardware or harness parts. |
| Unknown history | You cannot confirm crashes, recalls, age or missing parts. | Do not rely only on appearance when deciding whether to give it to another child. |
NHTSA Rules for a Car Seat After a Crash
NHTSA recommends replacing child safety seats after a moderate or severe crash. A seat does not automatically need replacement after a minor crash only when all of NHTSA’s minor-crash conditions are met and the manufacturer permits continued use.
NHTSA defines a minor crash by all five conditions
- The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
- The vehicle door nearest the child safety seat was not damaged.
- No passenger was injured.
- If the vehicle has air bags, none deployed.
- There is no visible damage to the car seat.
Before Donating, Selling or Accepting a Used Car Seat
NHTSA provides a used-car-seat safety checklist. A second-hand seat may be suitable only when its history and required information can be verified.
Verify these points
- No moderate or severe crash history
- Manufacture date and model number are present
- No unresolved recall that prevents safe use
- All required parts are present
- The instruction manual is available or can be obtained
- The seat is still within the manufacturer’s permitted usable life
Do not rely on these alone
- “It looks fine”
- “The plastic is not cracked”
- “It was only used by one family”
- “I cleaned the cover”
- “It still fits in my vehicle”
- “I cannot remember any crash”
Check a Car Seat Recall Before Reuse
NHTSA’s recall lookup allows users to search child restraints by manufacturer and model. The model number and manufacture date are normally found on a label attached to the seat.
What to Do When the Target Trade-In Event Is Closed
Target’s trade-in is seasonal, not a year-round car-seat recycling service. When the published event window ends, use local waste guidance instead of leaving a seat at a Target store.
City or county waste department
Search the official local solid-waste site for “car seat,” “child safety seat,” “hard-to-recycle,” “bulky waste” or special recycling events.
Hard-to-recycle event
Some communities periodically collect mixed-material products that ordinary curbside programs cannot process.
Local disposal route
If recycling is unavailable and the seat is unsafe for reuse, ask your local waste authority how the seat should be prepared for disposal.
Can a Child Car Seat Go in a Curbside Recycling Bin?
Usually not as a complete seat. Child safety seats combine multiple plastic types, foam, fabric, straps, metal and other components. A curbside program designed for bottles, cans and paper may not be equipped to dismantle or sort an assembled car seat.
Do not remove components and place them in curbside recycling unless your local program specifically tells you those exact parts are accepted. A recycling symbol or plastic resin mark on one component does not mean the complete seat belongs in the household recycling cart.
For general local facility planning, see the recycling center near me guide. If a municipality directs you to a city-operated drop-off, use the city recycling center guide to verify local access rules.
Before-You-Go Checklist for the Fall 2026 Trade-In
- Check the date: the trade-in window is September 20–October 3, 2026.
- Verify the store: Target excludes select small-format stores.
- Check store hours: there is no single nationwide daily drop-off time.
- Bring a qualifying item: car seats and car seat bases are listed as accepted.
- Sign into Target Circle: the trade-in offer is digital.
- Go to Guest Services: Target says drop-off boxes are located nearby.
- Scan the event sign: confirm the bonus is attached to your account.
- Remember the deadline: the bonus is valid through October 17, 2026.
- Do not expect cash: the program provides a percentage discount, not a scrap payment.
- Do not dump after hours: take the seat home if the event box is unavailable.
Replacing the Old Seat? Get the New Seat Checked
Recycling an unsafe seat solves only half the problem. NHTSA recommends choosing a replacement based on the child’s age and size, verifying the seat fits the vehicle and following both the car-seat and vehicle manuals for installation.
NHTSA also provides car-seat inspection resources. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians can inspect the installation and show caregivers how to use the seat correctly; NHTSA says these inspections are free in most cases.
Official Sources for Car Seat Recycling and Safety
Target Car Seat Trade-In FAQ
Use this for the current 2026 event dates, accepted seat types, Target Circle Bonus, expiration date, participating-store rules and app troubleshooting.
Open Target’s official FAQTarget Fall 2026 Event Information
Target’s September 2026 announcement confirms the September 20–October 3 fall event window.
Open Target’s Fall 2026 event informationCar Seat Use After a Crash
Use this before deciding whether a crash-involved child restraint can remain in service.
Open NHTSA crash guidanceUsed Car Seat Safety Checklist
Use this when deciding whether a second-hand seat has enough verified history and information to be considered for reuse.
Open NHTSA’s used-seat checklistNHTSA Recall Lookup
Search child-restraint recalls by brand and model before donating, selling or continuing to use an older seat.
Search NHTSA recallsFind a Target Store Near You for the 2026 Trade-In
The map below is a starting point for finding nearby Target locations. It does not prove that a particular store participates, so confirm the store before transporting a car seat, especially if it is a small-format location.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Target car seat trade-in event in Fall 2026?
Target’s Fall 2026 Car Seat Trade-In runs from September 20 through October 3, 2026.
How much is the Target car seat trade-in discount?
Target gives one 20% off Target Circle Bonus toward eligible baby gear. The Fall 2026 bonus is valid through October 17, 2026 and Target says it can be redeemed twice.
Does Target pay cash for an old car seat?
No cash payment is listed. The value is a 20% Target Circle discount toward eligible products.
What car seats does Target accept?
Target currently lists infant car seats, convertible car seats, car seat bases, harness and booster car seats, plus expired and damaged seats.
Where do I drop off the car seat inside Target?
Target says the collection boxes are located near Guest Services during the trade-in event.
Do all Target stores participate?
Target says all stores participate except select small-format stores. Contact your local store if you are unsure.
What if my Target Circle offer does not appear?
Target says to refresh the app, check your personal dashboard and use the “Apply 20% Off” option when the offer appears. Make sure the trade-in sign was scanned into the correct Target Circle account.
Can I recycle an expired car seat?
Yes during Target’s current trade-in event. Target specifically lists expired car seats among accepted trade-in items.
Can I recycle a damaged car seat?
Target lists damaged car seats as accepted during the event. A damaged safety seat should not be passed to another child for use.
Can I reuse a car seat after a crash?
NHTSA recommends replacement after a moderate or severe crash. Continued use after a minor crash should occur only when all NHTSA minor-crash conditions are satisfied and the manufacturer’s instructions allow it.
How do I know if a used car seat is safe?
NHTSA says the seat should have known crash history, model and manufacture labels, no unresolved safety problem preventing use, all required parts and an instruction manual. You should also verify that it is still within the manufacturer’s permitted usable life.
How do I check whether a car seat has been recalled?
Use NHTSA’s recall search with the seat manufacturer, model information and date information from the product label, then follow any manufacturer remedy instructions.
Can I put an old car seat in curbside recycling?
Usually not as a complete seat. Car seats contain several materials and generally need a special trade-in, hard-to-recycle program or local disposal route.
What should I do after October 3, 2026?
Do not leave the seat at Target after the trade-in event ends. Check your official city or county waste program for car-seat recycling, hard-to-recycle events, bulky waste or approved disposal instructions.
Is Recycling-Centre.org operated by Target or NHTSA?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. Event dates, store participation, discount rules, recalls and safety guidance should be verified with Target, NHTSA, the manufacturer or your local waste authority.