Recycling kids’ toys

Unwanted electrical toys and games cluttering up the home? Here’s your guide to freeing up space and emptying the old toy box guilt-free.

Why donate or recycle unwanted electrical toys?

So that they can have a great day every day

toys overflowing from toybox

Millions of toys are feeling unloved

UK homes are bursting with nearly 7.5 million unused tamagotchis, furbys, remote controlled cars and other electronic toys and games as children grow up and move on.

child with walkie talkie and other electrical toys

But old electrical toys still have a lot to give

Over 70% of the battery-operated toys that our kids no longer play with are still in working order and could brighten up someone else’s life. See our guide to donating electricals.

Donate electricals
child opening surprise box

And they contain hidden treasure

Like all electricals, electronic toys contain valuable materials like gold, silver and aluminium that can be used again to make new products – from bicycles to life-saving medical equipment.

young student learning about electronics

Reusing and recycling them is child’s play 

And with more than 16,000 reuse and recycling points across the UK, making sure the old favourites live on is so simple even an adult can do it. Find your nearest donation or recycling point.

Recycling locator

As easy as ABC

Could your unwanted electricals be passed on, or fixed? If not, recycling your electricals is the best thing to do. Now preparing them is simple.

Icon of a question mark

ASK

Does your old electrical contain batteries or bulbs? Remove these before recycling. Delete any personal data from smart devices, and take out memory and SIM cards.

illustration of bag to collect old electrcials for recycling

BAG IT

Find a bag that you can use to store all your old electricals until you can go to the recycling centre – or until collection day, if you have one.

Laptop with recycling locator icon

CHECK

Check our easy recycling locator to find your local repair, reuse or recycling points.

Recycling locator

What electrical toys can you recycle?

Anything with a plug, battery or cable

pile of old toys Buzz Lightyear & Woody Disney Pixar action figures from Toy Story

Did you know?

Find your nearest reuse and recycling point

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