Before You Trash It

Recently, we just had our 3rd child (You can read about her amazing VBAC delivery.), and since we do things slower than other folks, the baby seat that our oldest used was older than the recommended 5 years.  It had been used twice - with our oldest and our second, and besides being subject to the rigors of weather (hot and cold) while installed in our car, it also endured almost 6 years in our attic.  So, when I pulled it down for our third child and the stickers practically fell off of it, I thought it might be time for a new car seat for our newest little angel. 

When I went to look into giving it to the Goodwill, I discovered that they would no longer take it because of its age, and then when I looked to recycle it, I found that in my entire state (Virginia) there was no recycling program for car seats.


It seems amazing, right?

Well, there are very few states that recycle these behemoths that we all buy, sometimes in duplicate because many of us have 2 cars.  So, I don't have a way that I can recycle my cars seats without it costing me way more than the car seat itself, but I can pull all the parts that I could reasonably reuse, like the restraint belts and maybe even the cover.

Car Seat Base Times 2

I got the idea to try to upcycle what I could from my car seats after I pulled or cut off all the parts from a deteriorated backpack a few years ago, which still survives in this tool belt I jerry-rigged for my sons.

Think of the possibilities: broken backpacks, bike helmets, jumbo space bags (I have a couple), old car seats.  The list could be endless.

Here are a few more items from my upcycling goldmine.

Broken Bike Helmet

Look at those clasps!  It would be a shame to throw them out.

When I started disassembling the bike helmet, I discovered 2 funky bits that held the straps in the helmet, so I saved them too.

Jumbo Space Bag Tote
I used to use these puppies to store my kids clothes as they grew out of them, but lately, they have become more expensive and the tote part seems to fall apart after a few years in the attic.

I recovered the plastic front, the zipper, and clips that held the bag even more compact.

I am not sure yet whether the zipper was worth the removal, but the other loot sure was worth it.  I was even able to separate the bag from the tote insert so I could reuse it.  I just fit the bag in an inexpensive plastic bin.

Before you trash it, think of ways you can give your old or damaged items a new life.  I am sure there is a costume or custom kids something-or-other that I can put together with these things.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kelley

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