Aussies throw away nearly 27 million toys every year - here’s what Big W is doing about it
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It's no secret that Australians are big on consumption. We're a nation of shopaholics, and our love of buying new things extends to our kids and their toys.
Unfortunately, all that buying comes at a cost. Australians throw a staggering 26.8 million toys in the bin every year, with the majority not being curbside recyclable. That's a lot of waste, and it's having a big impact on the environment.
Fortunately, there are companies like BIG W who are working to combat the problem. BIG W's Toys for Joy program is a nationwide initiative — present in all of its 176 stores — that collects old toys and sends them to be recycled. In its first year, the program collected over 18 tonnes of waste.
Big W’s Toys for Joy program aims to reduce waste from toys that are disposed of improperly. Credit: Big W McKay.
According to the Managing Director of Big W, Pejman Okhovat, the program aims to reduce the number of toys that find their way into landfills by giving parents and carers an easy and accessible disposal alternative at their local BIG W store.
“We know as kids grow older, they grow out of their toys and Toys For Joy provides parents peace of mind knowing that as they declutter, they are disposing of old toys in a manner that helps to reduce landfill. The program has been resonating with families, evidenced by the collection of more than 18 tonnes of waste that has been sent to TerraCycle for recycling so far,” he said.
"We are committed to reducing landfills and helping to make new, fun things for kids and communities to enjoy. Our first project was a children’s playground in a school in the western suburbs of Sydney and we have new initiatives in the pipeline to help communities that need it most. We look forward to making an even greater difference now the program has a national footprint.”
General Manager of TerraCycle Australia Jean Bailliard expressed the company's gratitude to Big W for partnering with them for this cause.
He said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in a project such as Toys for Joy that gives end-of-life toys a second life. The program not only saves worn-out toys from landfill, but our recycling process also takes complex materials like metal, rubber and a variety of plastics and turns them into new materials for reuse.”
Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley also lauded the initiative, saying: “Initiatives like Toys for Joy are another step in helping change the national conversation about recycling, and our traditional ‘throw away’ culture. Everyone has the opportunity to help achieve our national waste targets and protect our environment, and I congratulate BIG W who are certainly playing their part in this.”
Every year, Australians throw 28.8 million toys in landfills. Credit: Getty Images.
So, how does the program work?
Customers can simply place their pre-loved toys into a designated Toys for Joy chest found at the front of all Big W stores.
It should be noted, however, that the retailer can not accept the following items:
- Books
- Playdough and slime
- Pens
- Pencils
- Crayons or paint brushes
- Wooden toys
- Board games
- Batteries
- Oversized toys
The retailer also said that COVID safety measures are observed in the designated areas to ensure the safety of families who drop off their toys.
More information on the program can be found on Big W's website.
So, there you have it, folks! If you have grandkids or your friends and loved ones have kids who are outgrowing their toys, you might want to consider dropping by your local Big W to properly dispose of them.
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