Mid & East Antrim Christmas Toy collection

Mid & East Antrim Council, for the second time running, are hosting a Christmas Toy Container at each of our five Household Recycling Centres across the Borough, for unwanted or re-loved toys.

This Christmas why not give those toys that are lying around the house to those who find this time of year more challenging.

For the second year running, Council are working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, East Belfast Mission and our a new charity, Drop Inn Ministries to deliver a toy donation scheme through HRC’s at Waveney Road, Ballymena, Glenarm,  Redlands in Larne, Larne South, Islandmagee and Sullatober in Carrickfergus.

The scheme will run between Monday 16th November and Friday 18th December 2020.

Residents from the Borough, and beyond, are being invited to drop off pre-loved and unwanted toys into a specially designated container on each of the sites. Site attendants can direct you to the container and Council will then donate these to Habitat for Humanity in Ballymena, East Belfast Mission (Restore shop in Larne) and Drop Inn Charity Shop in Carrickfergus who will provide access to the public to purchase these unwanted and pre-loved toys, at a very reasonable price.

Habitat for Humanity, said “Delighted to be part of the Christmas Toy Container 2020 at this time of year which can be so challenging for families on low incomes. We look forward to being able to offer families the opportunity to get good, quality toys at low cost."

Habitat ReStore is the hub for our work, connecting the local and global. By selling donated new and used building and home improvement materials, it serves thousands of families who need help to improve their homes at low cost and diverts tons of material from landfill.

ReStore delivers intentional volunteering opportunities and raises funds to build hope and homes around the world.”

East Belfast Mission, said “Larne Restore are delighted to be part of this great partnership at a time when we should all be thinking of others.

Drop Inn Charity, said “Drop Inn are delighted to be working with Council on this waste-reducing project, especially during these challenging times.”

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston, said: “We hope that through this scheme, more perfectly good toys will be re-used rather than just being thrown away. We are supporting the waste hierarchy which promotes prevention of waste and re-using, where possible. 

“The ideal toys that we would be looking for would be: kids bicycles, scooters, plastic seesaws, small plastic slides etc, games, vtech toys, jigsaws, books, dolls, robots, most plastic/wooden toys etc, in good working order. We will not accept soft plush toys e.g. teddy bears.”

Over 8.5 million toys are thrown away each year in the UK; this just adds to the landfill tonnage we through away in one year.

By donating unwanted/pre-loved toys, it’s a win-win. Not only will you get to clear some space in your home, your old toys will be given a new home with a family that may find it harder at this time of the year.

As a reminder, residents kindly dropping off the toys will need to do this without assistance from our site attendants, in line with the current restrictions.

If you have any queries please contact waste.helpdesk@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or alternatively phone 0300 124 5000, Option 0.