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Reusing and recycling toys and games

Sort complete toys, battery-powered toys and broken pieces into the right routes.

Last reviewed 21 October 2026 · Applies to UK household guidance; collection arrangements vary by council

Quick answer. Donate suitable working toys after checking acceptance. Ordinary toys are not packaging recycling, and battery-powered toys need an electrical recycling route when they reach the end of their life.

Check condition and completeness

Gather the pieces, clean the item as its instructions allow and make missing parts clear. Ask a charity or community group before donating bulky toys or incomplete games. Do not pass on something you know is unsafe.

Separate electrical toys

Lights, sounds, a motor, a charging cable or a battery compartment indicate an electrical item. Remove only batteries designed for normal user removal and recycle them separately. Leave built-in batteries inside for the receiving electrical scheme.

A plastic toy is not a plastic bottle

Do not put broken hard-plastic toys into a packaging bin simply because they are plastic. Ask whether your recycling centre accepts toys or their materials. Mixed plastic, fabric and metal components may need a different stream.

Before handing over a collection

Keep small parts with their toy, protect sharp broken edges and tell staff if a battery is damaged. Do not put battery-powered toys into residual rubbish.

Read battery recycling and electrical recycling before a toy-room clear-out.

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