Are Most Plastic Toys Recyclable? Fact vs Myth

Many people assume that most, if not all plastic toys can be recycled but in reality this is a myth. 

According to earth911.com  “Recycling plastic toys is difficult. You are unlikely to find municipal programs that accept them. The main problem is identifying what type(s) of plastic the toys are made from.”

In many countries, the manpower or technology required to identify and separate the different types of plastic is too expensive.  And for those toys that can be recycled, it’s highly unlikely that they will be reincarnated as toys. This is because when plastics are recycled they are combined with plastics from a variety of products, most of which contain chemicals that are not suitable for children's products. 

In Australia, we generate over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste a year. Even with products that can be recycled, the process requires precious resources for example “it takes at least as much (and often much more) water to make the bottle as the drinking water it holds.” - https://www.watercalculator.org. Recycling is absolutely a far better choice than not but fortunately, with regards to toys and educational tools we can avoid plastic almost altogether - Nature produces hardwood that is ideal for producing durable toys, combined with non-toxic paints and natural finishes means that eventually, provided the necessary conditions can biodegrade and return to nature.

The World Health Organisation and many international bodies report on the impact our choices are making on the environment. This is causing many businesses and households to reconsider their choices, and when it comes to innovative new materials they simply don’t compare to what already exists in nature.