“Did you know that in BC an estimated 85,000 – 100,000 child car seats end up in the landfill each year?” asks BCAA’s website.
This is due to how quickly children grow out of their car seats, manufacturers assigning an expiry date to each seat, and no end-of-life recycling program for these products. Expiry dates on car seats are not required by Transport Canada, but they recommend that manufacturer’s instructions and warnings for each specific child car seat or booster seat model are followed. The result? An ongoing supply of un-reusable children’s car seats.
“Residents have been asking us where to take expired or un-usable children’s car seats for years,” says Alda Nicmans, Executive Director of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, “They want to do the right thing, they don’t want to throw them in the landfill, but until now there were not a lot of options, or places to bring them for recycling.”
Children’s car seats can now be dropped off for free at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, 10002 236th Street. The Depot is open seven days a week, including most statutory holidays.
While there is not yet a provincially-regulated recycling program for children’s car seats, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has found an industry partner that can take them.
“Some parts of the car seat, like the fabric cover and foam cushions, as well as some plastic components, are not recyclable,” Nicmans continues, “However, the metal and some plastic can be recycled and used to create new products. The car seats will be picked up and processed by Davis Trading, who handles our other scrap metal.”
There are other places in the Lower Mainland that also take car seats for recycling. Below is a list of places to take these items. More information at https://www.bcaa.com/community/community-programs/child-passenger-safety/child-car-seat-recycling
Other places to bring car seats in the Lower Mainland?
1) Keep It Green Recycling
Location: 1772 Broadway St Unit 110, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2M8
Phone: 640-341-6495 Email: contactus@keepitgreenrecycling.ca
Weblink: https://www.keepitgreenrecycling.ca/services/
General Information: There is a fee of $15 per seat, and no need to remove fabric beforehand. Although an appointment is not needed, it is best to email/ contact before dropping off the car seat to recycle. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
2) New Westminster Queensborough Landing Return-it.
Location: 409 Boyne St, New Westminster, BC V3M 5K2
Phone: 604-540-4467 Weblink: http://qbreturnit.com/car-seats/
General Information: There is a fee of $20 plus tax/ car seat. But they take more than just car seats; they can take booster seats, high chairs, playpens, strollers, and cribs. This location does not need appointments either. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
3) Reclaim Plastics (Burnaby)
Location: 8321 Willard St, Burnaby, BC V3N 2X3
Phone: (604) 549-6880 Email: info@reclaimplastics.com
Weblink: https://reclaimplastics.com/recycling-services/car-seat-recycling/
General Information: An appointment is necessary (call 30 minutes prior is sufficient) as there is no public entrance. Fees vary for different types of car seats: Infant Seat: $22, Convertible or All-in-One Seat: $22, Booster Seat: $16. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
4) United We Can
Location: 449 Industrial Avenue Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-681-0001 Email: info@unitedwecan.ca
Weblink: https://reclaimplastics.com/recycling-services/car-seat-recycling/
General Information: Fees vary for different types of car seats: Infant Seat: $22, Convertible or All-in-One Seat: $22, Booster Seat: $16. They are in partnership with Reclaim Plastics. They are just a drop-off centre; they do not recycle it there, as it will get sent to Burnaby. Do not have to be a resident of the area..
5) Return-It Centre (Whiterock)
Location: 28, 15515 – 24th Avenue, White Rock, BC V4A 2J4
Phone: 604-531-7669 Weblink: https://www.return-it.ca/locations/semiahmoo-bottle-depot/#acceptedproducts
General Information: Fees for a child car seat are $20 (plus GST), they do not accept cash and must head over to the cashier to recycle. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
6) Waste Control Services
Location: 1493 Dominion St, North Vancouver BC, V7J 1B3
Phone: 604-987-1493 Weblink: https://wastecontrolservices.com/wcs-depot/red-bag-recycling/
General Information: Fees for a child car seat are $10 (plus GST). Although there is a fee, customers are asked to remove any fabric pieces before dropping them off. There is no need to make an appointment. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
7) Pacific Mattress Recycling / Canadian Mattress Recycling
Location: 1493 Dominion St, North Vancouver BC, V7J 1B3
Phone: (236) 355-0303 Weblink: https://mattressrecycling.ca/
General Information: The fee for any car seat is $16.38 (including tax). There is no need to schedule an appointment or for customers to remove any of the fabric. Do not have to be a resident of the area.
8) Richmond Recycling Depot
Location: 5555 Lynas Ln, Richmond, BC V7C 5B2
Phone: (604)-276-4010
Weblink: https://www.richmond.ca/services/recycling-garbage/recyclingservices/recyclingdepot.htm
General Information: Accepts car seats from Richmond residents for free, as it is a resident taxpayer-subsidized program. Richmond residents can drop car seats off at the ‘Upholstered Furniture’ area.