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How to Recycle Unmarked Plastic Toys

Plastic toys without a mark for recycling -- look for the triangle of arrows with a number from one to seven in the middle -- pose a challenge to earth-conscious consumers, because most recycling programs won't accept them. The landfill is not a good place to send them, because plastic toys are not biodegradable. While tossing unmarked plastic toys into the recycling bin may not be an option, there are other ways to recycle them.

Instructions

- 1
  Check with your local recycling program to confirm that they don't take unmarked plastic toys. While most do not, some do, or can at least tell you where you can take them locally for recycling.
- 2
  Locate a "toy rescue" organization in your area that collects discarded plastic toys in order to clean and refurbish them, such as Second Chance Toys, which has programs in several US cities. The refurbished toys are then distributed to needy children in the area.
- 3
  Donate old plastic toys and toy parts to a company that uses them to make new toys, such as Toy Lab in Cincinnati, Ohio. The pieces are then used as raw material for customers to make new original toy creations. If you don't live near Toy Lab, you can collect toys yourself and use them for a similar project for a Scout troop, art class or afterschool program.
- 4
  Offer old plastic toy parts to artists, who may find new uses for them. Old dolls, plastic figures and even child-sized plastic furniture can be recycled into artwork. You can list your toys online through groups like Freecycle, or sites such as Craigslist or eBay.

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