Target Recycling and Car Seat Trade-In, Explained
Target runs a car seat trade-in event twice a year with a 20% off Target Circle bonus, plus in-store collections for electronics, hangers and plastic film.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store programs change. This is a summary in our own words of Target's car seat trade-in pages, its coupon help page and its corporate sustainability page, read on October 26, 2026. Check the official pages before you load up the car.
The car seat trade-in event
Target's best-known take-back program is its Car Seat Trade-in event. Target calls it semi-annual, so it runs twice a year for a set window rather than all year. You drop an old car seat in a box at the store and get a coupon toward new baby gear.
| Question | What Target says |
|---|---|
| What can I bring? | All types: infant, convertible, harness and booster seats, car seat bases, and seats that are expired or damaged. |
| Where? | Only in a Target store. Drop-off boxes sit near Guest Services. |
| Which stores? | All stores except select small format stores. Call your local store to confirm. |
| What do I get? | A 20% off Target Circle bonus, one per Target Circle account. |
| Can I shop online with it? | Yes. The bonus works in store and online. |
Car seat trade-in dates
On October 26, 2026, Target's FAQ still named September 20 through October 3, 2026 as the next event, and said the bonus from that event is valid through October 17, 2026. Both dates have passed, and the pages we read do not post a date for the following event. Watch the event page and the Target app for the next window.
How the 20% bonus works
- Scan the sign. Signs near the drop-off boxes carry a code you scan with your phone to add the bonus to your Target Circle account.
- Find it in your Wallet. If it does not show up, Target says to refresh the app, open your dashboard and tap the button to apply the 20% off.
- Use it twice. The bonus is redeemable twice and stays in your Wallet until you use it twice or it expires.
The bonus covers a new car seat, booster seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller or select baby home gear: playards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers and jumpers. It can be combined with other item offers. It excludes items sold and shipped by Target Plus, UPPAbaby items and clearance.
What happens to the old seats
Target says its recycling partners turn the materials into items such as pallets, plastic buckets, steel beams, carpet padding and select Brightroom products. Target started the program in April 2016, and its event page puts the total at over 3.8 million car seats recycled.
Other recycling at Target stores
Target's corporate sustainability page says it has run in-store collection programs for more than three decades. It names these ongoing collections:
- Electronics collection.
- Clothing hangers.
- Plastic film, collected at the front of the store.
The page does not list accepted items or limits for each bin, so check with your store before you bring a large load or anything with a battery.
Is there a Target trade-in for electronics?
We did not find a current Target page offering store credit for used phones, tablets or games. The electronics collection above is recycling, not a trade-in for money.
Sources
Car Seat Trade-in Event FAQ, Car Seat Trade-in Event and Coupons and deals help, Target; Circular design, Target Corporation. Policy checked October 26, 2026.