How to recycle/dispose of car seats / child safety seats

Curbside collection: Request bulk trash pick-up
County facilities accepting car seats / child safety seats:
 Shady Grove Processing Facility & Transfer Station

Is your car seat damaged or expired?

If your car seat is damaged, has been in an accident, or is past its expiration date, discard it even if you don't see anything visibly wrong with it.

For curbside trash collection:

• Remove all straps and padding
• Use a permanent marker to label the seat with "Trash - Do not re-use"
• If possible, place the straps and padding into one trash can or bag, and the seat into another. This is to help prevent someone from taking your seat for reuse.
• If you have Montgomery County-provided trash collection service, request a bulk trash collection for your seat.
  • If you have privately-provided trash service, check with your trash collector for pickup instructions.

How can I tell the seat's age? Why does the age matter?

The car seat's manufacture date is either on a sticker or is directly stamped into the plastic on the back or bottom of the seat. Specific manufacturer recommendations on expiration vary, advising disposal between five and nine years after the manufacture date.

More details on car seat age and expiration

Where can I take a usable car seat?

To see if your seat can be used by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service's car seat program, please contact the program manager, Emilie Crown, at 240-777-2467. (Generally, if you are the original owner and the seat has never been in a crash, infant seats are helpful for needy families. Other seats can also sometimes be used for training purposes.)

We prefer that people simply "regift" to a friend or neighbor directly, and not through thrift shops or other places. When passing along a car seat, be sure to:

• provide the original owner's manual
• provide assurance the seat was never involved in a crash
• Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to verify that the seat does not have a recall.

Do you have additional car seat questions?

For questions about car seats and booster seats, contact Montgomery County's Child Passenger Safety Program at 240-777-2467

Car Seat Inspection Station locations and schedules

"How to recycle/dispose of..." Index

This information last updated 5/6/2013.