
Plastic toys are a tricky category when it comes to recycling. While plastic bottles, tubs, and cartons are commonly recycled, plastic toys are often made of hard plastic, which cannot be processed with household recycling. This means that plastic toys are generally considered general household waste and end up in landfills or incineration. However, some local recycling centres do accept plastic toys for recycling, so it is worth checking with your nearest centre before discarding them. If the toys are still in good condition, they can also be donated to charity shops or given away to be loved by another child.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic toys in the recycling bin | Not accepted for kerbside recycling |
| Plastic toys in good condition | Donate to charity shops or give them away for free |
| Plastic toys with metal parts | Remove metal parts before sending to recycling centres |
| Plastic toys with batteries | Remove batteries and recycle them separately |
| Plastic toys in Suffolk | Accepted for recycling |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic toys cannot be recycled at home but can be recycled at some household waste and recycling centres
- Before taking plastic toys to a recycling centre, check if they accept them and remove any non-plastic parts
- Plastic toys in good condition can be donated to charity shops or given away for free on apps like Olio or Freecycle
- Plastic toys that are beyond repair may still have some parts that can be recycled, such as batteries and battery packs
- Plastic toys are usually made of hard plastic, which cannot be processed with household recycling, which is generally made of soft plastic

Plastic toys cannot be recycled at home but can be recycled at some household waste and recycling centres
Plastic toys cannot be recycled at home. They are usually made from hard plastic, which cannot be processed as part of your household recycling. However, some household waste and recycling centres will collect them for recycling.
If your plastic toys are in good condition, you could consider donating them to charity shops or giving them away for free on platforms like Olio, Freecycle, or Gumtree. This way, you can extend the life of these toys and provide other children with the opportunity to enjoy them. Additionally, it reduces the demand for brand new toys, benefiting the environment.
Before donating or recycling plastic toys, ensure that you remove any non-plastic parts, such as batteries and metal pieces. This is important because these non-plastic components can contaminate the recycling process if not properly separated.
If you're unsure about where to take your plastic toys for recycling, you can use online resources such as recycling locator tools or check with your local borough's website to find the nearest recycling centre that accepts these items. It's always a good idea to give them a call or check their website to ensure they accept plastic toys before heading over.
Remember, recycling plastic toys can be challenging due to the type of plastic used, but with proper disposal and the availability of specialised recycling centres, we can ensure these items are handled responsibly and reduce their environmental impact.
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Before taking plastic toys to a recycling centre, check if they accept them and remove any non-plastic parts
Plastic toys cannot be recycled with your general household recycling. This is because they are usually made of hard plastic, which cannot be processed with the soft plastics that make up the rest of your household recycling. However, some recycling centres do accept plastic toys, so it is worth checking with your local centre before taking them there. If your local recycling centre does accept plastic toys, be sure to remove any non-plastic parts, such as batteries and metal, so that the toys can be properly processed.
If your toys are in good condition, you may want to consider donating them to a charity shop or giving them away for free on platforms such as Olio, Freecycle, or Gumtree. Alternatively, you could sell or give them away to someone you know, such as a friend or family member with children. This would reduce the demand for brand new toys, which is good for the environment. There are also services such as Toys4Life, which find new homes for boxes of toys in third world countries and socially deprived areas.
If your toys are beyond repair, it may still be possible to recycle some of the parts. For example, batteries and battery packs from remote controls should be removed and recycled separately.
It is important to put the right items into your recycling bin to avoid contamination. This can be costly and dangerous, and it can also prevent other items in the bin from being recycled.
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Plastic toys in good condition can be donated to charity shops or given away for free on apps like Olio or Freecycle
Plastic toys cannot be recycled with your kerbside collection. This is because they are usually made of hard plastic, which cannot be processed as part of your household recycling. However, if your plastic toys are in good condition, you can give them away to be reused.
One option is to donate them to charity shops, which will sell them to other children. This reduces the demand for brand new toys, which is good for the environment, and it also enables the charity to make some money. You could also donate your toys to a service such as Toys4Life, which finds new homes for boxes of toys in deprived areas and third-world countries.
If you would prefer to give your toys away for free, you can use apps like Olio or Freecycle. These platforms allow you to connect with people in your local community who might be able to make use of your unwanted toys.
Before donating or giving away your toys, make sure that they are clean and dry. If your toys are broken or damaged beyond repair, you should check with your local recycling centre, as some do accept plastic toys. If your local recycling centre does accept them, make sure to remove anything that isn't plastic, such as batteries and metal parts, so that they can be properly processed.
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Plastic toys that are beyond repair may still have some parts that can be recycled, such as batteries and battery packs
Plastic toys cannot be recycled with your household recycling. This is because they are usually made from hard plastic, which cannot be processed as part of your household recycling. However, this does not mean that plastic toys cannot be recycled at all. Some local recycling centres do accept plastic toys. If your local recycling centre is one of them, be sure to remove anything that isn't plastic, such as batteries and metal parts, so that they can be properly processed.
If your plastic toys are in good condition, you could also consider donating them to charity shops or giving them away for free on platforms like Olio, Freecycle, or Gumtree. This would give other children the opportunity to enjoy the toys and reduce the demand for brand new toys, which is good for the environment. Toys4Life is another service you could consider, as they find new homes for boxes of toys in third-world countries and socially deprived areas.
If your plastic toys are beyond repair, it may still be possible to recycle some of the parts. This includes batteries and battery packs from remote controls, which should be removed and recycled separately.
It is important to remember that putting non-recyclable items in your recycling bin can spoil the rest of the items in the bin, affecting their integrity and preventing them from being sold on to sustainable businesses.
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Plastic toys are usually made of hard plastic, which cannot be processed with household recycling, which is generally made of soft plastic
However, this does not mean that plastic toys cannot be recycled at all. Some local recycling centres do accept plastic toys, so it is always worth checking with them first. If your local recycling centre is one of those that accepts plastic toys, be sure to remove anything that isn't plastic, such as batteries and metal parts, so that they can be properly processed.
If your toys are in good condition, you could also consider donating them to charity shops, giving them away for free on platforms like Olio, Freecycle, or Gumtree, or reselling them. This not only gives other children the opportunity to enjoy the toys but also reduces the demand for brand new toys, which is good for the environment. Services like Toys4Life, for example, aim to tackle plastic toy pollution by finding new homes for boxes of toys in third-world countries and socially deprived areas.
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Frequently asked questions
No, plastic toys cannot be put in the recycling bin. They are usually made out of hard plastic, which cannot be processed as part of your household recycling.
Plastic toys in good condition can be donated to charity shops or given away for free on platforms like Olio, Freecycle, or Gumtree.
If the toys are beyond repair, you can check with your local recycling centre as some do accept plastic toys. Before dropping them off, make sure to remove anything that isn't plastic, such as batteries and metal parts.
If your toys are in working order but you no longer want them, you can resell them or give them away to friends, family, or local community groups.









































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