It's DECEMBER and it's time to think about toys!  Let's be creative.

Recycled Toys By Artist Robert Bradford 

Kids around the world will be getting new toys this holiday, but what about the old toys and toy pieces, what will happen to them?  Not a landfill, I hope!

If your kids have way too many toys or toys they have outgrown, try a few of these ideas to recycle them!  Try asking any of the local places below if they can use the discarded toys.  Use more than one venue.  For instance, good toys can go to a preschool or games to a boys club. Broken toys can go to a town swap, where some artists might use the pieces to create something fanciful!

It takes time to recycle, but worth the effort.

Toys are made of metal, plastic and other elements that are not good for our landfills. Every little paint chipped matchbox or lego you toss in the trash adds up to an ecological nightmare for the next generation. For instance,  plastic does not biodegrade.  it ends up on beaches as plastic sand.  Then it gets eaten by fish and other animals.

So, this holiday, give a gift to Earth: Take the time to properly dispose of old toys.

Where you can recycle toys: 

• A preschool
• A local daycare
• Boys or girls club
• Homeless shelter
• A thrift shop
• Consignment
• Your town Swap
• Yard Sale
• Give to a friend
• A neighbor
• A family in need
• Craft Co-op
• Have a craft day with the kids

Here are some fun projects artists have done with old toy pieces:

Recreate: Mix old and new toy parts

Rethink. Make new toys from old ones, by artist Ira Mercy

Rethink: Make a furniture from toys  

Reimagine: Make fun decor from toys 

Repurpose.  Make useful objects from toys 

Resmile.  Toy parts to fun jewelry  

 © JAG www.planetpals.com all rights reserved