Now that it’s spring again, it’s time for some hard-core cleaning. And if you have kids, that includes decluttering their rooms and getting rid of some of those unwanted toys. But what are you supposed to do with them? Here are some ideas.
- Tom’s of Maine #LessWasteChallenge - The eco-minded folks at Tom’s of Maine and the recycling experts at TerraCycle created the #LessWasteChallenge, which is a toy recycling program to reduce waste. Just print a free UPS shipping label from TomsOfMaine.com/lesswaste and fill a box with up to 10 pounds of unwanted toys - they even take broken ones - and drop it off at UPS to ship.
- Just for LEGOs - You send in your sets or mixed up LEGO pieces via FedEx or UPS and Brick Recycler will get them to kids in need. Play Well Africa also collects and distributes those tiny plastic building bricks, sending them to educational environments in Africa.
- Toy swaps - Moms Club chapters host swaps throughout the year and if you can’t find one nearby, hold one yourself! Invite parents to drop off stuff ahead of time and on the day of, let everyone take what they want.
- Amazon’s Give Back Box - Amazon is working with Goodwill on the Give Back Box program and they’ve made super easy for you to donate your unwanted household items, including toys. Just use the box from an Amazon purchase, refill with your donations, and print a free shipping label and UPS or USPS will deliver your goods to Goodwill for free.
- Memorialize your stuff - If you want to keep some of your kids’ art projects, 4ever Bound takes stacks of drawings and notes and creates a cool hardcover book with them. And if you have old clothing you want to remember forever, like favorite baby outfits, Project Repat will make a keepsake quilt with them.
Source: She Knows
Photo: Getty Images