4 Environmentally Friendly Ideas to Recycle Unused Toys
Birthdays are a time for presents, and especially for kids this means new toys. However it also means that the old toys are filled in a cart and kept in a separate area of the room, never to be played with again. This is not an environmentally friendly thing, and therefore it is suggested that the old toys are recycled so that you can adopt a more sustainabile approach towards saving the earth for the next generation.
1. Avoid Putting Them in a Landfill
Don’t throw away the old toys. They will only end up in a landfill. When you throw old toys out with the trash, they become useless to everyone. Go through them and categorize them based on those that can still be used and those that cannot. Contact local recycling agencies and find out whether they except toys. Plastic can generally be recycled, and since most kids toys are made with that you might be in luck. The toys might also have the “recycle” logo on them to help them in this process.
2. Arts and Crafts
The toys and their pieces can be used in arts and crafts project. It is recommended that instead of dumping them, you use them in future projects in your children’s school. You can also be creative and make your own do-it-yourself arts and craft project which will keep your kids engaged, and help recycle used toys.
3. Repairs and Maintenance
Some toys are broken but can be fixed. Take the time to look at them and figure out which ones can still be salvaged, if not for your own kids then for those at an orphanage. For example, a stuffed toy might have lost its eye or a car might have lost it antenna. You can also paint the toy cars or sew new clothes for dolls to make them look brand new. Plastic can be washed with soap and water.
4. Donation
You can dispose of the old toys by donating them to a charity. In this manner you can make a contribution to the society and also dispose of the toys in a manner that no detrimental effects are made on the environment. Day cares and orphanages are also in constant need of help and by donating children toys to these kids you can make an effective contribution to the colorful world of those children that are not blessed. This also teaches your child about giving back, and helps them see another side to the world – one where other children do not have as many toys as they do.
Whatever you decide to do with your child’s old toys, involve them in the process. It can be eye-opening for kids in this consumerist age to see what happens to the toys they discard, and how someone else can still get pleasure from them.
Mike is a father of 2 passionate about child development and sustainable development. Over the last 4 years, Mike has written numerous articles on the topics and contributed to many forums. Aside from blogging, Mike reviews outdoor toys and kids products for various online magazines.
