In a first for the region, Wiltshire’s household recycling centres now feature dedicated containers for reusable toys, as part of a partnership with charity Toys 4 Life. These special bins, installed at all eight county recycling centres, will be emptied weekly and aim to redirect gently used toys to children in underprivileged communities across the globe.
The initiative is focused on plastic, wooden, musical, and cuddly toys in good condition — though broken toys and puzzles are not accepted due to practical limitations in sorting and verifying components.
Charlotte King, co-founder of Toys 4 Life, said:
“As long as the toys are usable, that’s what matters. We’ve always wanted to give old toys a second life rather than see them end up in landfills.”
King, inspired by her own four children, started the toy donation effort with her mother in 2017. Initially picking up from schools and businesses, the initiative now collects around seven tonnes of toys a week across the UK.
The containers are located in Stanton St Quintin, Melksham, Devizes, Marlborough, Trowbridge, Warminster, Amesbury, and Salisbury.
With its mix of environmental responsibility and global kindness, the program ensures toys that once sparked joy in one home can do so again in another — all while reducing waste.
Read also;