Community
20 May, 2022
Australia’s First Toy Recycling Program Expands To Cairns
AUSTRALIANS throw a staggering 26.8 million toys in the bin every year as options for recycling toys are scarce, with the majority not being kerbside recyclable.
To help combat these figures, BIG W has expanded its successful ‘Toys for Joy’ program to BIG W in Cairns and 176 stores nationally after the initiative saw over 18 tonnes of old toys collected in its first year of trial operations.
Facilitated by recycling partner TerraCycle, BIG W’s ‘Toys for Joy’ is the first of its kind toy recycling program in Australia.
Managing Director of BIG W, Pejman Okhovat, said 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,” Mr Okhovat said.
“The program has been resonating with families, evidenced by the collection of more than 18 tonnes of waste sent to TerraCycle for recycling so far.”
“We are committed to reducing landfill and helping to make new, fun things for kids and communities to enjoy. “We look forward to making an even greater difference now the program has a national footprint.”
General Manager of TerraCycle Australia Jean Bailliard praised BIG W for providing an in-store recycling solution for parents. “It’s fantastic to be involved in a project such as ‘Toys for Joy’ that gives end-of-life toys a second life,” Ms Bailliard.
“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, said initiatives like ‘Toys for Joy’ created an opportunity to reach the national waste targets.
“Initiatives like Toys for Joy are another step in helping change the national conversation about recycling and our traditional ‘throw away’ culture,” Minister Ley said.
“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.”
Customers can drop pre-loved toys into the purpose-built ‘Toys for Joy’ chest, which locals can find at the front of BIG W in Stockland Shopping Centre. BIG W cannot accept books, playdough and slime, pens, pencils, crayons or paintbrushes, wooden toys, board games, batteries or oversized toys.
For more information, visit, www.bigw.com.au/toys-for-joy
