Why Passing Toys On Is Kinder to the Planet
Passing toys on is kinder to the planet because every toy played with again is one less made new. Reusing a toy means another child plays with it, just as it is. Recycling means breaking it down into its materials, which is hard to do with most toys. Both beat the bin, but reuse saves far more. It is the whole idea behind our free doorstep toy collections.
The waste hierarchy
Reuse first, recycling second
The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 rank the ways of dealing with waste in order, from best to worst. It is called the waste hierarchy:
Prevent it
Buy fewer toys and choose ones that last.
Reuse it
Pass it on so another child plays with it as it is. This is what donating your toys does.
Recycle it
Break it down and turn the material into something new.
Recover it
Burn it to make energy.
Dispose of it
Landfill, the last resort.
A reused toy is still a whole toy. A box of building bricks, a teddy or a set of action figures can be played with for years after your child has moved on. Many toys are made of several materials fixed together, such as plastic, metal, fabric and stuffing, so they are hard to break down. Reuse avoids that problem: nothing needs taking apart.
What it saves
What reusing toys saves
Making new toys uses raw materials, energy and transport, often from the other side of the world. Every toy that goes to a new home means one less needs to be made and shipped.
Our own estimate, for every kilo of toys used again rather than made new:
Work out your own with the green calculator
These are estimates, not measurements. The 5 kg box is only an example to show how the sum works. Weigh your own toys, or make a rough guess, and the green calculator will do the rest.
When reuse isn’t possible
When recycling is the right answer
Some toys really are finished: snapped, missing key parts or worn beyond saving. Those can’t be passed on, but they still shouldn’t go straight in the bin if there is another way. Most household recycling collections don’t take toys, so check what your local recycling centre accepts.
Toys with batteries or a plug should never go in your general rubbish. Take the batteries out and recycle them separately, and take the toy to a recycling centre that accepts small electricals.
The toys in our collections are sorted by hand at our warehouse, and we pass on what can be played with again. See the full journey on what happens to my toys.
So which should you do?
- Clean, whole and safe to play with? Donate it. Book a free doorstep toy collection.
- Broken or missing parts? Check what your local recycling centre takes.
- Not sure? Check what toys can I donate?
The one thing to avoid is the bin. Why that matters is on why shouldn’t old toys go in the bin?
Every day
Other ways to keep toys in play
- Buy second-hand, from charity shops, markets or online.
- Repair before you replace: a stitched seam on a teddy or a fresh battery can bring a toy back to life.
- Swap toys with friends and family, or try a toy library if there is one near you.
- Keep sets together, so bricks and figures can be passed on complete.
- When you do buy new, choose fewer, well-made toys that will last for more than one child.
Got a big box of bricks? See donating Lego from home, and for teddies, soft toys and teddies. Every toy you pass on gives another family an affordable choice and means one less made new. It is all collected free from your doorstep, and a large percentage of the proceeds goes to the charity you choose. Read who your toys help, or see how to donate toys step by step.
Sources
- The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, which set out the waste hierarchy.
- Our per-kilo figure is the estimate we use across our site for toys used again rather than made new.
Ready to donate your toys?
It’s free, you don’t need to be at home, and you choose the charity your donation supports.