Car Seat Installation
Frequently Asked Questions
Car Seat Recycling at Babies.co.nz — What You Need to Know
Choosing the right car seat is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a parent. But what happens when your seat expires, gets damaged, or your child grows out of it? For most Kiwi families, the answer has been the skip or the landfill — simply because there hasn't been an easy alternative.
That's changed. As an official SeatSmart collection site, Babies.co.nz makes it straightforward to recycle your old child car seat responsibly, right here in East Tamaki, Auckland. SeatSmart is New Zealand's only dedicated car seat recycling programme, and since launching in 2016 it has diverted over 52,000 seats — and hundreds of thousands of kilograms of plastic and metal — away from landfill.
Car seats are made from a combination of hard plastics, metals, foam, and fabric. None of these materials belong in your household bin, and most councils won't accept them through kerbside collection. Recycling through SeatSmart ensures every component is properly recovered — plastics are repurposed into building materials and garden products, metals are recycled, and even the harness straps get a second life.
If you purchased your car seat from Babies.co.nz, recycling is completely free. For seats purchased elsewhere, we subsidise the standard SeatSmart fee so you only pay $25 per seat instead of the full $35. No appointment necessary — just bring your seat in store during opening hours and our team will take care of the rest.
SeatSmart is New Zealand's only child car seat recycling programme, run by 3R Group. Launched in 2016, SeatSmart has grown to over 45 collection sites stretching from Auckland to Queenstown. Babies.co.nz is one of a small number of specialist baby retailers who partner with SeatSmart to make recycling as accessible as possible for Kiwi families.
When you drop a seat off at our store, it goes through a detailed dismantling process where plastics, metals, foam, and fabrics are all separated and directed into the appropriate recycling streams. Plastics are repurposed into building materials, metals are recycled, and harnesses get a second life as reusable bags. The process also provides paid work for community organisations — so recycling your old seat does more good than you might expect.
Car seats contain a mix of materials — hard plastics, metal components, foam padding, and fabric — that can't simply go in your household recycling bin. If they end up in general waste, they go straight to landfill. Given that over 100,000 car seats expire in New Zealand every year, that's a significant amount of material that could otherwise be recovered and reused.
Dropping your seat off at Babies.co.nz is the easiest way to make sure it doesn't contribute to that problem.
It depends on where you originally purchased your seat:
- Purchased from Babies.co.nz — recycling is free. Bring your seat in store with proof of purchase and we'll take care of the rest.
- Purchased elsewhere — we offer a subsidised rate of $25 per seat (the standard SeatSmart fee is $35, so we cover $10 of the cost for you).
There is a maximum of four seats per customer per visit. For larger loads, please contact SeatSmart directly.
SeatSmart accepts most types of child car seats, including:
- Infant capsules
- Convertible car seats
- Rotating car seats
- Harnessed booster seats
- Booster seats
There are a few exceptions. Seats that cannot be accepted include mouldy seats (as they can contaminate other seats and pose a health risk during processing), polystyrene seats, snap-and-go frames, and car seat accessories. If you're unsure whether your seat qualifies, give us a call on 09 274 3099 before making the trip.
Your car seat should be recycled if:
- It has expired — most car seats have a lifespan of 8–10 years from the date of manufacture, printed on a sticker on the seat itself
- It has been involved in a moderate or serious accident, even if it looks undamaged
- It has been damaged in any way that affects its structural integrity
- Your child has outgrown it and you no longer need it
Using an expired or damaged seat can be dangerous, even if it appears fine. If you're unsure about your seat's status, our team is happy to take a look when you come in.
No booking is needed for a standard drop-off. Simply bring your seat to our East Tamaki showroom during opening hours. If you purchased your seat from us, bring your proof of purchase so we can process it as a complimentary recycling.
If you're dropping off multiple seats or have any questions before you come in, feel free to call us on 09 274 3099.
Head to the counter inside our showroom and let our team know you're there to recycle a car seat. We'll sort out proof of purchase or payment first — you can leave the seat in your car until we confirm everything. Then we'll direct you to our drop-off point and take it from there.
Your seat is collected by SeatSmart and sent for processing. It's dismantled by hand, with each material type carefully separated — plastics, metals, foam, and fabric are all directed to the appropriate recycling streams and repurposed into new products. Nothing goes to landfill. The dismantling work is carried out with input from social enterprises, giving the programme a positive community dimension alongside its environmental impact.
Our Auckland showroom and SeatSmart collection point is at:
62 Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013
Opening hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00am–4:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am–2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Phone: 09 274 3099
Absolutely. While you're dropping off your old seat, our team is happy to help you find the right replacement. We carry a full range of car seats from trusted brands including Maxi-Cosi, Britax, Diono, Baby Jogger, and UPPAbaby — and our certified Child Restraint Technicians can advise on the best fit for your child's age, weight, and vehicle.
And don't forget — when you buy a new car seat from us, professional installation is included free of charge.
