Request
i work for beyondly (formerly comply direct), an environmental compliance scheme and consultancy based in north yorkshire. i am currently completing some research for the british toy and hobby association on toy specifically plastic toy recycling, the challenges and options for their members. i wondered whether you were able to share any data on toy recycling or hard plastics e.g., annual tonnages, contaminants, polymer types. i know you have recently introduced a hard plastics trial which includes toys and was also interested to learn more about this. i look forward to hearing from you.
Response
Further to our email acknowledging your EIR request (reference 2023-210), our response is as follows.
You requested information on recycling of toys and hard plastics.
As you reference in your request, in February we implemented a trial for the receipt of hard plastics, including toys, patio furniture, etc., at our RRC at Regis Road, Camden. In April, the trial was expanded to include our RRC at Hornsey Street, Islington. The plastics are collected in dedicated containers, then sorted, shredded, washed and pelletised at facilities within the UK and the Netherlands.
To date we have diverted 17.4 tonnes of hard plastics to recycling. Unfortunately, we do not hold any data about what proportion of these plastics were toys, but the trial accepts objects such as slides, rigid plastic toys, large garden skittles, etc. No electrical items are accepted.
As part of the trial, each container is being assessed when it arrives at the disposal site for contaminants and the levels are reported to be low. We do not hold any data about the polymer types.
Any good quality, reusable toys that are complete and have CE labels will be taken to our reuse shop at Kings Road and sold on to residents of north London. Again, this excludes electrical items. We do not hold any data about the number of toys that have been sent to the shop.
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to raise a further information request. If you would like to complain about our handling of information requests, you can do so by emailing this email address (informationrequests@nlwa.gov.uk) or using the enquiry form on our website.
