Tips for Disposing & Recycling Sex Toys

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end at some point in time. Whether you've loved them to their grave, or maybe haven't treated them how they should have been (seriously, it’s important!), there will come a point in time when you need to let your favourite sex toys go.

If you're conscious about your impact on the environment, then you'll probably want to know how you should go about disposing of your old sex toys.

Many people might feel embarrassed at the thought of recycling or disposing of sex toys, which results in them being shoved to the bottom of rubbish bags, out of sight. But reality is, there are several easy things you can do to make a difference for the environment!

Worldwide

There are several companies around the world that specifically recycle and repurpose sex toys and their parts, helping to cut consumer waste and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in landfills. Typically these are specific to brands, so it's a good idea to see whether the brand of your toys offers a specific service for disposing of their products.

Unfortunately, recycling sex toys in New Zealand and Australia is extremely difficult, however Adulttoymegastore launched a sex toy recycling programme in 2021 that enables New Zealanders to recycle glass, metal and e-waste sex toys!

But since not all sex toy materials are recyclable, here are several steps you can take in the right direction to make a difference.

Buy Smart

The easiest way to avoid contributing to the world's waste is by making smarter purchasing decisions. Opt for something that is designed to last a lifetime, such as toys made from glass or toys that are made from higher quality materials. Some of these might be a little on the pricier side, but they are guaranteed to last longer due to the quality materials that have been put into their production.

Icicles No. 2$265.95Shop Now

The Icicles Glass Massager is made from hypoallergenic glass that is non-porous and body-safe, and is designed to last a lifetime if cared for correctly!

Doxy Wands are also known to be incredibly durable and long-lasting, so if you're in the market for a shiny new vibrator this could be a good option!

Clean them

Hopefully this is somewhat self-explanatory! Before getting rid of your toys, it's best to thoroughly clean them with hot water and a sex toy cleaner. This will help avoid the spread of bacteria and bodily fluids, reduce any odour, and generally make sure your toy is suitable for handling by another human being.

Refresh Anti-bacterial Toy Cleaner$35.95Shop Now

If you need a helping hand to get everything squeaky clean, the Refresh Anti-Bacterial Toy Cleaner is a great thing to have on-hand!

Separate the parts

If your sex toy has a motorised or electrical component, such as vibrators do, then a great way to make a positive impact on the environment is to separate these as best you can. Sex toys that are battery operated should have the batteries removed as well.

Find out what electronics/batteries your local landfill accepts, as these typically need to be recycled separate to your general waste. Sometimes you might need to dispose of these at a designated collection centre as well.

Know the materials

It's always important to know what your sex toys are made of for your safety, and is beneficial so you can determine which lubricants are compatible. Further, if you know what materials you're working with, then it will be a lot easier to dispose and recycle of your toys responsibly!

Sex toys aren’t all made equally, so it's likely you'll be dealing with a variety of materials among your collection. Silicone toys are very common, and typically silicone is an easily recyclable material, but you should still double check what grade silicone and whether there are any other materials.

Glass toys and those made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can typically be recycled as usual. As for your rubber toys, such as dildos, some rubbish and recycling centres might not accept these, so if you want to do the right thing, it's best to double check!

Typically your local council landfill page will have a list of materials and items that are recyclable/disposable or not, so that’s a good place to start!

Ask your local landfill

If you're really not sure what to do with your toys, ring up your local council or landfill for advice. Start the conversation!

While it might be awkward, landfill workers deal with all sorts of rubbish and recycling on a daily basis, and it's likely they have already come across many incorrectly disposed-of sex toys in their time. Hopefully they'll appreciate the effort you're making to be enviro-friendly, and who knows – maybe it'll help make a difference in the future of disposing sex toys responsibly!