Target car seat trade-in returns Sept. 20 with 20% off

Target’s car seat trade-in event returns Sept. 20, offering parents 20% off new baby gear in exchange for old car seats. The program runs through Oct. 3 at Target stores.

For two weeks, the retail chain is accepting car seats in any condition, including infant seats, car seat bases and booster seats. The seats will be accepted even if they are expired or damaged.

Materials from the car seats dropped off during the trade-in event will be recycled to make items such as plastic buckets, carpet padding, construction materials and storage bins, Target says.

Shoppers who turn in their car seats will receive a 20% off Target Circle bonus usable on two purchases. Eligible items include a new car seat, stroller, high chair, play yard, swing, rocker and other types of baby gear. Customers will need to download the Target app to use the discount.

Target also recommends disposing of a child seat “in a way that it won’t be reused by anyone.”

Car seats typically expire after 7 to 10 years, as changing temperatures create wear and tear that can eventually make the seats unsafe. Customers can check their car seat’s expiration by looking at the manufacturing label.

Since launching the car seat trade-in program in 2016, Target says it has recycled materials from more than 3.5 million car seats.