Whether they are in a broken shape or no longer wanted, many of the plastic toys end up in a landfill.
Now, to save unnecessary wastege of these toys, local toy libraries have come up in Australia. The result is that today, donations made by families who no longer want or need their toys account for nearly half of the 4,300 toys at the Darwin Toy Library.
Library director Frances Czoloszynski said for more than 400 members, the toy library was a means of reducing the amount of plastic in their lives. “That is exactly why we’re here for; they can come in and borrow thousands of toys,” she added.
“They take them home and if their children really love them they can keep them for a couple of weeks and if they don’t like them, they bring them back or swap them,” she informed.
Toy Libraries, Australia is the not-for-profit peak body for more than 280 community-run toy libraries around the country.
One of its two paid staff members, Sharna Ellington, said toy libraries were committed to reduce environmental waste while promoting learning through play.
“Toy library members are able to borrow age-appropriate toys for their children instead of buying them and then throwing them away when their kids outgrow them,” she observed.
