J&B Recycling Knowledge

Toys bring a lot of joy into our homes, but they don’t always stay loved forever. Children grow out of them, pieces go missing, batteries stop working, or they simply break. When that happens, many people are unsure what to do next – and a large number of toys end up in the general waste bin when they could be reused or recycled.

At J&B Recycling, we see first‑hand how often reusable items are thrown away. This guide explains the best ways to dispose of toys responsibly in the UK, helping you reduce waste, support reuse, and keep recyclable materials out of landfill wherever possible.

Start with reuse – the best option

If a toy is still in good condition, reuse should always be your first choice.

Many toys, especially soft toys, dolls, board games and building sets, can be enjoyed by another child. Consider:

• Donating to charity shops or community groups
• Giving to friends, family or local parent groups
• Using online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle
• Asking schools, nurseries or playgroups if they accept donations

Clean toys thoroughly before passing them on, particularly soft toys, which can usually be machine washed. Reuse helps reduce demand for new products and keeps perfectly usable items in circulation.

Can toys be recycled?

Some parts of toys can be recycled, but it depends on what they are made from.

Plastic toys

Most rigid plastic toys are made from mixed plastics, which are not widely accepted in household recycling bins. Even if they look similar to bottles or food containers, they are often made from different plastic types.

Your best option is to take plastic toys to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), commonly known as “the tip”. Many sites have specific containers for hard plastics or mixed plastics, where they can be sorted and sent for specialist recycling.

Soft toys and fabric toys

Soft toys are usually made from a combination of fabric, foam stuffing and synthetic fibres. These mixed materials make them difficult to recycle at home.

If they are clean and reusable, donate them. If not, your local HWRC may accept them for textile recovery or reuse schemes. Otherwise, they should go into general waste.

Wooden toys

Wooden toys are often easier to recycle or reuse. If they are in good condition, they can be donated or passed on. Broken wooden toys can usually go into the wood recycling container at your local recycling centre, provided they are untreated and free from heavy paint or metal parts.

Metal toys

Metal toys or toys with significant metal parts can often be recycled as scrap metal at your local HWRC. Remove batteries and electronic components first.

What about electronic toys?

Toys that contain batteries, plugs, lights or sound chips are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

These should never go in your household recycling bin or general waste bin.

Instead:

• Remove any batteries and recycle them separately at a battery recycling point
• Take the toy to your local HWRC, where WEEE items are collected for safe treatment and recycling

Electrical toys contain valuable materials that can be recovered, but also components that need specialist handling to prevent environmental harm.

When general waste is the only option

Unfortunately, not all toys can be reused or recycled. Heavily damaged toys, toys contaminated with food or mould, or those made from complex mixed materials may need to go into general waste.

If this is the case, try to:

• Separate different materials where possible
• Remove batteries and recycle them properly
• Avoid placing recyclable packaging in the same bag

Reducing what goes into general waste helps improve recycling quality and lowers the environmental impact of waste treatment.

A quick checklist before throwing toys away

Before putting a toy in the bin, ask:

• Is it clean and safe to donate?
• Can any part be recycled at the local recycling centre?
• Does it contain batteries or electronics?
• Could someone else make use of it?

Spending a few extra minutes can make a real difference.

Supporting responsible waste management

At J&B Recycling, we work with households, businesses and local authorities across the North East to manage waste in a safe, legal and environmentally responsible way. Every year, we help recover large volumes of material that would otherwise be thrown away, supporting the move towards a more circular economy.

Responsible disposal of everyday items, including toys, plays a small but important part in reducing unnecessary waste and improving recycling outcomes.

If you would like to learn more about how different materials are processed, or how to reduce contamination in recycling, visit the recycling advice section of our website at www.jbrecycling.co.uk/jb-knowledge. 

By choosing reuse first, recycling where possible, and disposing of waste correctly, we can all help ensure fewer toys end up in the wrong place.