Local families are being rallied to help the environment and their back pocket by giving toys a second life at the first Toy Replay event at Noosa’s Barely Worn Thrift Market on Saturday 5 August.
Local mum owned businesses, SPARK POP and Choose the ‘Tude have joined forces to create this buy, swap or recycle market with the aim of untrashing playrooms and diverting toy waste from landfill during Plastic Free July.
As working mums, they witness their children’s abundance of playthings, and end up dealing with the clutter it creates. Sadly, the result is often perfectly good toys going to waste, with it recently being revealed by Australian Toy Association and Victoria Sustainability that 51 per cent of toys are thrown out within 12 months of purchase.
Choose the ‘Tude founder Robyn Simpson said the event was also about encouraging children to make a positive difference in their world.
“This event supports raising happy humans as we empower our children to get involved by considering their possessions, their environment and the positive choices and impact they can create.”
It’s super simple for those who want to participate in the Toy Replay, and start their spring clean a little early.
Simply gather any toys, games, books, stuffed animals, puzzles, that no longer bring you joy and either take into your participating kindergarten or bring along to the event to trade for another pre-loved treasure.
Any donated toys will be put up for sale with proceeds donated to The Smith Family and local Sunshine Coast charity Connect Kids. For toys that are degraded and no longer functional, SPARK POP will have a TerraCycle Zero Waste BoxTM available for toys to be collected, recycled, and transformed into new products.
The process of Toy Replay provides an opportunity for families to reset and refine the balance of playthings in the home, with less toys offering many benefits as SPARK POP founder Melissa Soutar explains.
“For children less toys often leads to focused more resourceful, creative and imaginative play, and for parents less toys reduces clutter stress and rather supports your well-being and emotional health, helping you to attend to children’s needs and maintain healthy relationships”.
SPARK POP and Choose the ‘Tude are delighted to be joining forces with local not-for-profit operation Barely Worn Thrift Markets run by mums Renee and Hayley who are also fighting the war against waste, running their pre-loved clothing market across the coast.
Pack up the kids and get along to the Toy Replay and Barely Worn Thrift Markets on Saturday 5 August from 8am at 4 Action St Noosaville. Free entry.
Visit facebook.com/events/645822004142429 for details.
