Christmas Toy Container Project 2023

Council launches pre-loved toys scheme for fifth year!

 From Monday 30th October, Christmas toy containers will be set up at our five Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and the three leisure Centres across Mid and East Antrim, so pre-loved toys can be given a new home this festive season.

For the fifth year running, Council is working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, East Belfast Mission (Restore) and local community groups including Larne Community Care Centre Group, Larne and Carrickfergus Locality Planning Group, Home Start, Horizon Sure Start to deliver the toy donation scheme.

Over 8.5 million toys are thrown away each year in the UK which adds to the landfill tonnage we throw away in one year.

In 2022 we diverted over 5.2 tonne of toys from landfill and gifted to local communities, this is over 50% more than the 2021 tonnage diverted and gifted. We are hoping to exceed this figure this Christmas, reducing landfill, protecting the environment, and helping others.

Residents from the borough are being invited to drop off pre-loved and unwanted toys into a specially designated container at each of the sites. Donated toys must be clean, complete and good quality i.e. what you’d provide to your own child.

The project will run between Monday 30th October and Friday 8th December.

Toy drop-off points will be at our five open Household Recycling Centres and our three leisure centres.

Ballymena area:

· Waveney Road HRC, Ballymena – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm.

· Seven Towers Leisure Centre – Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm and Sunday 12pm – 5pm.

Larne area:

· Redlands HRC, Larne – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm.

· Larne South HRC, Islandmagee – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am – 5pm.

· Glenarm HRC – Wednesday and Saturday 9am – 5pm.

· Larne Leisure Centre – Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm.

Carrickfergus area:

· Sullatober HRC, Carrickfergus – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 1pm – 5pm.

· Amphitheatre Leisure Centre – Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 5pm.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna, said:

“This scheme is the perfect opportunity for people to reduce the number of old unwanted toys in a more sustainable fashion in homes while supporting those who struggle during the Christmas period. The Council look for ways in which they can support the waste hierarchy which promotes prevention of waste and re-using, where possible. We hope that residents will drop off items such as: kid’s bicycles, scooters, plastic seesaws, small plastic slides etc, games, vetch 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. With Mid and East Antrim being the first Council in Northern Ireland to set up a scheme of this nature, I’ve been amazed at the level of community spirit behind it, which has built year-on-year.”

Site attendants and leisure centre staff can direct you to the Christmas Toy Container at each site. Council will then donate these to local charities who will provide access to the public to purchase these unwanted and pre-loved toys, at a very reasonable price and will also provide to local community centres and other delivery partners who will gift them to local families across the borough.

By donating unwanted/pre-loved toys, it’s a win-win. Not only will you get to clear some space in your home, but your old toys will also 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 at the five recycling centres and three leisure centres should ensure the toys are in good, clean condition, and are complete e.g., full jigsaw, toys with all the smaller parts included. Please only donate toys in a good condition that you would provide to your own child.

Thank you.