Child car seats' plastic and metal recycled to avoid landfill

A programme aiming to cut the number of car seats ending up in the landfill has won the support of Plunket Tauranga and Baby on the Move.

More than 40,000 child restraints reach their expiry date in New Zealand every year, and most end up in the landfill, despite about 80 to 90 per cent of a typical seat being recyclable.

The SeatSmart recycling project aims to change that by turning plastic from the seats into new products used in the building industry. It also recycled metal parts.

Programme manager Toni Bye said one of the advantages of the programme was that it reduced the chance of expired car seats being given away or sold.

''Many people aren't aware that children's car seats have a limited life span of six to 10 years.''

Plunket Tauranga Car Seat Education and Advocacy co-ordinator Sandy Waugh said it joined the recycling effort a year ago.

''People can drop their old car seats in or ones that have been in an accident that are no longer safe to use, and they can be recycled and picked up from here. We have had 15 to 20 seats a month dropped off which has been good.''

Plunket asked for $10 per seat towards recycling.

''When they [the seats] are out of date the plastic frames can be quite brittle due to UV rays and sitting in the car in the sun. That is the reason they have a use by date.''

Plunket did not advise people to buy second-hand car seats unless it came from someone they knew "so you have got the history".

"Often an inexperienced person could not tell if it had been in an accident''.

Plunket advised parents to keep car seats rear facing for as long as possible and to make sure the seat was fitted correctly.

''When we have had police checkpoints we have found 60 to 80 per cent of seats are incorrectly fitted in the car. When I say incorrectly I mean in such a way they could be a danger rather than saving them so it's huge.''

''We have clinics on a Monday and Thursday so if they buy a seat somewhere they can come here and we can fit the seat.''

Amy Attwood of Baby on the Move said the organisation was excited to be involved in SeatSmart.

"Being part of this programme means that not only are we able to reduce our businesses' waste but we are also helping our customers reduce their waste.

"Customers love that their old seats are able to be recycled and if they are purchasing a new seat from us we will often waive the fee to recycle their old seat."

Drop Off Points
* Plunket Car Seat Clinic, 471 Devonport Rd, Tauranga. Opening hours: Monday and Thursday 10am - 2pm
* Baby on the Move, 132 First Ave, Tauranga. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 4.30pm, Saturday 9.30am - 2.30pm
* There is a small charge of $10 per seat to cover the costs of recycling
* Please do not leave seats outside of these hours. More information can be found on www.SeatSmart.co.nz.