Source: Porirua City Council
The expired and damaged car seat collection in Porirua has rolled around once more.
Porirua City Council road safety coordinator, Paulette Pavelich, says a car seat or booster seat is one of the most used pieces of equipment a parent owns, but many might not realise they expire between five and 10 years after they’re made.
This time last year, more than 160 car or booster seats were collected at Trash Palace after the call went out to drop them off for free.
This November, the programme is running again, with company Seat Smart collecting everything dropped off for recycling.
Car seats sit in the back of vehicles day after day and, with constant acceleration and stopping, and children taken in and out of them regularly, it forces strain onto the straps and base, Paulette says.
“The straps get weak over time and the plastic in the base and back of seats can develop cracks that undermine the effectiveness and strength, so it’s important they’re replaced.
“After the success we had with the collection scheme in 2025, it makes sense to do this again.”
Expired or damaged car seats or boosters can be dropped at Trash Palace, just before the entrance to Spicer Landfill, between 1 and 30 November.
Council also holds regular public car seat checks, and the last one for this year will take place on 4 December from 1-2 pm in the parking area next to Onepoto Park on Main Rd, Titahi Bay.
