First toy swap event takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at Storey's Field Centre
The majority of toys in existence are not recyclable and end up in landfills all over the world. Given the UK toy industry has an estimate of £1.2billion, and many of those toys are plastic, there is an elephant in the room staring at us when it comes to their recycling.
At present, there are no recycling facilities targeted to the toys we buy, so that is why Cambridge-based social enterprise, A Toy's Life and Beyond (TLB), established a toy recycling social venture, the aim of which is to reduce the amount of toys going into landfills.
One of their projects is a toy swap where children bring a toy they no longer want/play with and swap it for another one. The aim of the activity is to promote responsible and eco-friendly habits.
TLB believes that instilling awareness from a young age can result in a better understanding of what happens to the waste that is generated from toys - particularly plastic toys - and its packaging. The toy shop swap will help children - and adults - be more environmentally responsible and reduce waste.
Maria Antonieta Nestor of TLB said: “Setting up a toy swap, particularly at this time of the year, gives parents something to think about as children do not buy toys, grown-ups do.”
The inaugural toy swap event will be held at Storey’s Field Centre on Saturday (December 15) from 1.30pm to 4pm.