How to Dispose of Old Toys 🧸: Of all the rubbish to get rid of, how to dispose of old toys is arguably one of the most challenging. We light up when we see them bring joy to kids’ faces; however, children outgrow them, and they are left scattered around the house or piled up in school/daycare storage rooms.
The urge is great to throw them into the bin, but that’s not always the best environmental choice. Here at Waster.com.au, we provide you with an alternative option. As the country’s foremost expert in sustainable waste management, we can help businesses and households alike in waste disposal, including your kids’ old toys.
What Are Toys Made Of and Why Does It Matter for Recycling?
First off, we need to know the most common toy materials as we cover the best ways to dispose of them responsibl.
- Plastic: This is the most common toy material. It is durable, lightweight and can be moulded into any kind of shape or colour. The most common types include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene and polyethylene.
- Fabric: Materials for toys include cotton, plush polyester, fleece and felt. They are machine washable and safe for babies and young children. Toys include dolls and stuffed animals.
- Metal: These toys are often created from tin, steel or die-cast alloys. Examples of toys include cars and trains, among others.
- Rubber: This is a popular material for balls, teething and bath toys. Natural rubber is biodegradable, whilst synthetic rubber is more durable.
- Electronics: Toys made of these materials use batteries, circuits, sounds and lights.
Sometimes, there is a mix of such materials in these toys. They can be tricky to recycle because of the following:
- Separation difficulty: The recycling of mixed materials is made hard by most recycling facilities using single materials.
- Contamination concerns: When various materials are stuck together, they tend to contaminate each other.
- Complex electronic structure: This is a problem because they contain circuit boards that have various metals including gold, copper, plastics and batteries.
- Adhesives/Fasteners: Joining the materials with welding, glue and screws can make it difficult to separate materials.
We at Waster.com.au understand these conditions. This is why our recycling can best advise you on sorting and separating these tricky materials before completely disposing of them.
Can You Recycle Broken Toys in Australia Instead of Disposing of Them?
The answer is yes: you can recycle broken toys in Australia instead of disposing of them. The tricky part is to find out where. A lot of local recycling bins don’t take in toys due to the mixed materials and contamination risks.
Examples of toy parts that could be recycled are hard plastics, batteries and electronics. You could reach out to Waster.com.au to know how to recycle complex waste.
Waster assists businesses and households in discovering smart recycling solutions for hard-to-handle materials. Contact us now.
Should You Repair or Donate Old Toys?
As the thought of how to dispose of toys crosses your mind, you may want to consider repairing the toys, or donating them as sustainable first options. There are local establishments that cater to these, including the following:
- Toy repair programs: These go through community repair cafes and workshops. Volunteers then help recycle broken toys by fixing them instead of discarding them.
- Local donation drives: These are common, especially during Christmas and back-to-school periods. Take a look at Save the Children Australia and The Toy Adoption Company if you have any interest in donating toys.
- Toy libraries: These operate like libraries, allowing families to check out toys for a period and return them.
Through reuse initiatives, Waster is at the forefront of waste reduction. “Reduce, reuse, recycle” in our waste management initiatives.
When Is It Time to Dispose of Old Toys?
The VHS tape recycling process involves several specialised steps that most businesses never see:
We would like to emphasise that if toys are damaged, have mould, or have parts that are unsafe, they should not be reused or donated.
Waster’s waste collection services are a practical and clean option if you want to dispose of toy waste. You could also not have as much landfill impact in the process.
How Can Businesses and Households Dispose of Toys Responsibly in Australia?
What if, with the old toys you have, there hardly option for toy recycling – Australia waste management services has a proper step-by-step procedure on how to dispose of old toys responsibly:
- Sort the toys according to their condition. Either they are:
- Reusable – In good working condition so that they can perform properly.
- Recyclable – Broken/worn toys that go into recycling streams
- Non-Recyclable – A lot of toys come here due to mixed materials.
- Remove the batteries and electronics for e-waste recycling.
- Use the needed screwdrivers to open the compartments and take out the batteries. Store them in a cool place when you take the toys to the designated collection point.
- If the electronic components of the toys can be easily retrieved via the battery compartment, remove the said parts. If they need destructive disassembly, look at the whole toy as e-waste.
- Once separated, drop off the components at the designated centres.
- Use Waster’s recycling and general waste services for proper disposal.
- Waster’s commercial recycling bins accept plastic toys (with electronic components removed), cardboard packaging and metal components.
- For non-recyclable items for landfill, we dispose of them in compliance with Australian waste regulations.
Why choose Waster?
We make sustainable waste management simple by using transparent pricing, contracts with no lock-in periods and recycling Australia-wide service. Learn more about how Waster can aid your business or community dispose of or recycle toys in a responsible manner.
Why Choose Waster for Toy Recycling and Waste Disposal?
As a renowned expert in sustainable waste management. Waster has got you covered for environmentally-compliant solutions, including toy waste disposal. When you purchase our services you get the following benefits:
- Affordable and flexible contracts, with no lock-in terms
- National coverage for small and large clients
- Meticulous handling of complex materials, including plastics and e-waste.
- Focus on aiding clients to reach sustainability goals.
Whether wondering how to dispose of old toys, or acquiring any waste management service, our name should be top of mind. Visit Waster.com.au now to find a service tailored to your waste disposal or recycling needs.