What's the best way to dispose of an old booster? I have a Breverra that's either 8 or 9 years old and I've replaced it with a belt positioning booster (for the older daycare kiddos--I still have lots of harnessed boosters ). I'm just afraid if I put it in the trash the collectors will take it out and do something with it. I've seen them take things out before, and I don't have a problem with it (one person's junk...), but I don't want them taking an old booster out and using it. Also, I know the plastic in the seat breaks down over time, but can I pirate the clip that goes over the chest? The one on my niece's carseat is about to break. TIA

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 09:37 am:

When I've disposed of expired car seats I took off the cover and took out the harness and cut the straps. I then took a thick, permanent marker and wrote boldly on the plastic seat shell, "DO NOT USE - IN A CRASH". I threw out the seat shell and cover/straps on different trash days. All this to hopefully prevent someone else from using the seat. Ideally, it would be best to demolish the seat shell to be sure no one could use it but we don't have the means to do that, as most people probably don't.

I think it would be OK to save the chest clip, but be sure to use it only on a car seat made by the same manufacturer.

By Cat on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 10:03 am:

Thanx, Trina. I'm sure if I gave the kids sledge hammers they'd have a blast destroying the seat shell! lol I'll probably just write on it.

I'll have to ask my mom what kind of seat my niece has.

By Conni on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 02:02 pm:

I am so glad you posted this!! I have a Britax sitting in the attic that I dont know what to do it. Its 4 or 5 yrs old I think. Anyway, I think I will do this and get rid of it. IT will kill me to cut or mark or tear it after what I paid for that darn thing. ROFL

Thanks for the tip.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:05 pm:

Conni, before trashing your Britax check the Date Of Manufacture. Recommended use is 6 years from DOM.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:07 pm:

Another option is to donate old/used seats to a CPS Tech Instructor in your area. They use them in class for training purposes.

By Cat on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:24 pm:

Trina, do you think a CPS Tech may want my old seat? It's the same as the new ones, so installing it would be the same. I know there are at least to seats in my car that I can't use it in because there's NO way to get it in there tightly. This is the seat I have (different color, of course).



That big buckle on the bottom was always a problem for the kids to buckle themselves. What do you think?

By Cat on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:25 pm:

Trina, do you think a CPS Tech may want my old seat? It's the same as the new ones, so installing it would be the same. I know there are at least to seats in my car that I can't use it in because there's NO way to get it in there tightly. This is the seat I have (different color, of course). It's the one on the right. I have the one on the left, too, but It's not that old yet.



That big buckle on the bottom was always a problem for the kids to buckle themselves. What do you think?

By Cat on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 03:26 pm:

Whoops! I had to go back and edit my post when I was uploading the picture. I thought I'd just saved a picture of one, not both.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 05:04 pm:

Well, I know my instructor is happy to take used seats off peoples hands. You can look for CPS Techs and Instructors in your area at SafeKids.org in the "CPS Certification" section.

By Cat on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 05:20 pm:

Thanx, Trina (again!). I just emailed an instructor in my area. I'll let you know what she says. Maybe she can even get me into a class one of these days!

By Trina~moderator on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 05:24 pm:

YES! Get your contacts established. LOL! Ask if she needs a scribe for Car Seat Clinics!