Omar Khalid
It's estimated that 28 million damaged toys are thrown away each year in the UK alone, ending up in landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. With 90% of the 400 million toys sold by the UK toy industry being plastic, it's important to consider what to do with broken plastic toys. While some may choose to throw them away, there are several alternatives, including fixing them with glue or 3D-printed parts, repurposing them into art or other objects, donating them, or recycling them through programs like Tom's of Maine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Repair | Use glue or 3D-printed parts to fix broken toys |
| Donate | Give unbroken toys to charity shops, yard sales, or swap schemes |
| Recycle | Send to specialist recycling programmes or check local recycling rules |
| Reuse/Upcycle | Repurpose toys into art, coat hangers, or party bag fillers |
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What You'll Learn
Donate to charity shops, yard sales, or swap schemes
If you have broken plastic toys that are no longer wanted, consider donating them to charity shops, yard sales, or swap schemes. Charity shops often accept toys, even if they are broken or incomplete, and they can be passed on to families who may still find use in them. Yard sales are another great option for getting rid of unwanted toys, and you might be surprised at what people will want to buy. Alternatively, you could try swap schemes, where you can exchange your old toys for something else.
Before donating or selling, it is worth checking whether the toys can be fixed or repurposed. Many brands now offer free replacement parts for toys, and some even have 3D-printable files of commonly lost or broken parts. You can also check local parenting groups and forums, or Facebook missing piece groups, for any spare parts.
If you are unable to repair the toys, you could try contacting local artists, galleries, universities, and art studios to see if they can make use of any donated waste materials. Artists often work exclusively with these materials and will happily take broken toys off your hands.
Overall, donating, selling, or swapping unwanted plastic toys is a great way to reduce waste and give them a new lease of life.
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Melt down and repurpose into something new
If you have broken plastic toys, you can melt them down and repurpose them into something new. This process is possible, but it is important to note that melting plastic produces fumes that can be harmful if inhaled. Therefore, it should be done in a well-ventilated area, and an exhaust fan in the room is recommended. Before melting the plastic, make sure to identify the type of plastic you are working with. Thermoplastic can be melted and remoulded multiple times, although the quality of the plastic will likely degrade with each phase of melting and remoulding. On the other hand, thermosetting plastics cannot be melted and will burn instead.
There are several ways to melt plastic safely. One method involves cutting the plastic into small, manageable chunks and placing them in a metal container in an oven set at 350°F. It should take a few minutes for the plastic to melt. Another method is to use a hairdryer to heat the plastic and bend it into the desired shape.
Once the plastic is melted, it can be moulded into various new forms. For example, one person created chairs out of melted plastic. You can also get creative and use the melted plastic to make unique art, coat hangers, fridge magnets, or picture frames. Alternatively, you can donate your broken plastic toys to artists who work with waste materials and create art from them.
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Fix with glue or other adhesives
If your plastic toy is broken, you can fix it with glue or other adhesives instead of throwing it away. Bostik Fix & Glue is one option for repairing plastic toys as it is ultra-strong, long-lasting, and bonds to 99.9% of materials. Before you start, make sure to clean and dry the area to be repaired to remove any dust, dirt, or grease. Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder is another adhesive option for large repairs.
If you don't want to repair the toy yourself, you can also look into toy repair services. Some companies, like Tom's of Maine, offer toy recycling programs where you can send in your broken toys for recycling. Additionally, some toy brands offer free replacement parts for their products, so it's worth checking their websites or contacting their customer service to inquire about this option.
If you're unable to repair the toy or obtain replacement parts, you can also consider donating the toy to a local charity or yard sale. Many places accept gently used toys, and you can also offer them for free or at a low cost to local families through community groups or Facebook groups.
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Source missing pieces from parenting groups or forums
If you're looking to source missing pieces for broken plastic toys, a good place to start is local parenting groups and forums. These can be a great resource for finding replacement parts for toys that may otherwise be destined for the bin.
Facebook, for example, has groups dedicated to missing toy pieces, and it's worth searching for these or similar groups on other social media platforms. Online forums, such as Reddit, can also be a good place to connect with other parents who may have spare parts or advice on where to find them.
In addition to online groups, you could try contacting local parenting groups in your community. These groups often have networks of families with children of similar ages, and someone may have the piece you're looking for. Yard sales and reuse groups are another option, as people often give away toys or sell them cheaply, and you might be able to find the missing piece you need.
If you're unable to find the exact piece you're looking for, don't be afraid to get creative! Many artists work with donated waste materials and would happily take broken toys off your hands. You could also try your hand at making your own replacement parts using 3D printing technology, which is an increasingly popular way to repair toys.
Remember, by sourcing missing pieces for broken toys, you're not only extending the life of these toys but also helping to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of plastic toys.
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Recycle via a toy recycling program
One way to recycle broken plastic toys is to look for toy recycling programs. Toy recycling programs are a great way to ensure that your old toys are disposed of responsibly and given a new lease of life. Many toy manufacturers and retailers now offer these programs as a way to recover and reuse materials from old toys. Here are some specific examples of toy recycling programs and suggestions on how to recycle via such a program:
Mattel PlayBack:
Mattel, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers, has introduced the Mattel PlayBack program. This program accepts Barbie, Matchbox, and MEGA toys, as well as Fisher-Price and other Mattel-branded toys for recycling. The program is available in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. To participate, simply fill out a form on the Mattel website, package your old toys in a cardboard box, and attach the provided prepaid shipping label. Mattel will then sort and separate the toys by material, recycling and repurposing them into new items, such as playground equipment.
TerraCycle:
TerraCycle is another organisation that offers free recycling solutions for various toy manufacturers. They currently partner with Hasbro, Spin Master, L.O.L. Surprise, and VTech/LeapFrog. Check their website to see if your broken toys fall under any of these brands and then follow the instructions provided for shipping and recycling.
Lego Replay:
If you have broken Lego bricks, consider the Lego Replay program. This program accepts unwanted Lego bricks and finds new homes for them, keeping them in play and out of landfills.
Other Options:
If your broken plastic toys do not fall under any specific brand or program, there are still other options to consider. You can reach out to local artists, galleries, universities, or art studios, as many artists work exclusively with donated waste materials and would love to use broken toys in their creations. Additionally, some local community groups, yard sales, or reuse groups may be interested in taking broken toys off your hands for creative projects or repairs.
Remember, before recycling, it is always worth checking if your broken toys can be fixed or repurposed. Many brands now offer free replacement parts, and you can also get creative by using broken pieces to make something new, such as treasure trays or unique art pieces.
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Frequently asked questions
You can fix them! Try using a strong glue to repair the plastic, such as Bostik Fix & Glue, which bonds 99.9% of materials. You could also try 3D printing new parts, or contacting the manufacturer, as many brands now offer free replacement parts.
You could repurpose them into art, coat hangers, fridge magnets, or picture frames. You could also donate them to local artists, galleries, universities, or art studios.
Some places around your town may accept gently used toys. You could also donate them to a local yard sale or church sale. Alternatively, you could send them to a toy recycling program, such as Tom's of Maine, which encourages families to reduce waste.
Visit the Tom's of Maine website and enter your contact information to receive a free UPS shipping label via email. Fill a box with up to ten pounds of broken toys and ship it out with the label.
You could try selling them on eBay or giving them away to friends and family. You could also use any loose parts for party bags.
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