Tips on Recycling Toys
Unfortunately, you normally can’t just drop your unwanted toys in your curbside program bin. Toys are often comprised of several different materials, making them difficult to recycle.
Share the Love!
The best option is to reuse them:
- Pass them along to other children in your family.
- Donate toys to a local charity, school or church.
- Check your local hospitals. Some accept stuffed animals and other toys.
- Repair broken toys instead of throwing them out.
- Make some money. Try selling your toys online or at a yard sale.
E-Waste
If electronic toys are irreparably damaged, they should be recycled with other e-waste.
Batteries
Always remember to recycle the batteries used in your child’s toys.
- Rechargeable batteries still contain heavy metals, but they last longer.
- Look for batteries that contain less mercury and heavy metals.
- If you must toss your batteries, dispose of them properly with a household hazardous waste (HHW) or similar program.
- There are many different kinds of batteries, and they require different disposal procedures.
Recalls
Make sure to return recalls to the manufacturer instead of simply throwing them out. They may contain hazardous toxins.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is often used in toy manufacturing. It is sometimes tricky to recycle PVC, but you can use Earth911 to find the nearest drop-off location.
