As a parent, you know how easily kids get fascinated with new toys. And once you get them the latest toys, they don’t last long before their interest changes. At that point, they’ll start asking for something different. That’s why you might have a bunch of toys filled in the closet, with some gathering dust under the bed.
Each year, the sale of toys increases significantly. In 2021, Americans spent a whopping $38.2 billion on toys. Most parents get their kids new toys on birthdays and every major holiday. So a single kid ends up with dozens of toys, some of which are never used.
Many parents don’t know what to do with unused dolls. Some put them in trash cans; no wonder 80% of all toys end up in landfills. Before you dispose of trash full of old toys, think of how you can reduce your environmental footprint through recycling. Let’s discuss some alternative options.
1. Donate Functional Toys
If your kid has non-broken old toys, donating them is one of the best options. Some kids from low-income families and childcare centers can’t afford to buy new toys. You can put a smile on many faces by donating the functional toys.
Some channels you can use to donate toys include Marine Toys for Tots and Second Chance Toys. These are non-profit organizations that take care of children in need.
Cradle to Crayons is another foundation that does the same thing. But here, you can donate toys and other things like clothes, books, and shoes that your kids have outgrown. If you don’t have a donation collection center nearby, you can take the toys to your local church, children’s home/shelter, daycare centers, and hospitals.
Alternatively, you can support charitable work by donating to organizations like The Salvation Army and Goodwill. These organizations will take your kind donations and resell them. Then they’ll use the profit from the sale to finance their charitable work.
2. Take Them to Recycling Programs
Though some toys are built to be resilient, kids tend to find a way of breaking stuff easily. Inevitably, some toys will end up broken, making it hard to donate. In such cases, consider taking them to a recycling program.
Approximately 90% of all toys are plastic. Unfortunately, not all plastics are recyclable. So if a toy comprises several types of plastics, it’s hard to find a recycling program for the item. And when you give the toys to companies that dispose of trash, they’ll end up in landfills.
To avoid that, check with the toy manufacturer if they have a recycling program for their toys. If not, consider companies like TerraCycle. This company has innovative ways to recycle plastics that other companies don’t accept in their programs.
If the toy has metallic and wooden parts, you can take it apart instead of discarding the whole thing. Metal and wood are easier to recycle. Also, remove any electronic components and batteries before you dispose of trash.
Consider buying plastic toys with a recycling code at the bottom in the future. That will assure you that the toy will fit in most recycling programs.
Declutter Your House by Recycling Old Toys
With the holidays around the corner, you’ll probably get a new toy for your kid. If that will make them happy, then do it by all means. But you don’t have to keep dozens of unused toys in the house. Think about it, you can brighten a child’s day by donating the items.
If they’re broken beyond use, separate recyclables from non-recyclables. Then hand them to a trash removal company for proper disposal or recycling. Not only will that make your home eco-friendly, but it will also keep it tidy.
Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
Donna
We donated a bunch when we moved.