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"Can you recycle adult toys?" It's a question we hear often in-store, and the answer is a bit like a relationship status. "It’s complicated." But, don't despair! The good news is that, yes, in part, you can recycle adult toys. How far you want to go is up to you, but there is a sweet spot for eco-friendly disposal without needing a PhD in chemistry. So, let’s dive in.
Step 1: Motorised Toys - An E-Waste Love Affair
For toys with a motor, the easiest (and most satisfying) way to start the recycling process is to grab a trusty box cutter and carefully slice off the silicone or rubber exterior. Don’t worry, it’s more like peeling an apple than defusing a bomb. Once you’ve freed the inner workings from the outer silicone shell, you’re left with the mechanical heart of your toy: the batteries and motor.
In Australia, these can be recycled like any other e-waste at places like Officeworks, or through council e-waste bins (you’ve probably seen those blue bins around). Even some apartment buildings have special e-waste disposal options. And voilà, you've just made the world a tiny bit greener!
Step 2: Silicone - The Tricky One
Now, the silicone shell is where things get sticky (pun intended). Yes, silicone can technically be recycled, but it’s a bit of a process. You’d need to shred it into tiny pieces and then mix it into a new silicone mould. This is great news for silicone artists and crafters, but for the rest of us mere mortals, it’s not super practical.
Unfortunately, if you’re not in the business of silicone sculpting, it’ll likely end up in hard waste landfill, where it will take a while to break down. How long, you ask? Silicone can take centuries to degrade fully. It’s a durable material, but that’s both its superpower and its kryptonite.
Step 3: Non-Motorised Toys - DIY or Rehome?
If you’ve got a non-motorised toy (think dildos, plugs, or anything old-school/manual), recycling options are still limited unless you’re ready to go into arts and crafts mode. As with silicone toys, you could shred and remould, but we understand that’s not everyone's vibe.
An eco-friendlier option? Rehoming. Non-motorised toys are easy to sterilise just boil them for a few minutes or give them a good scrub with toy cleaner. Not feeling particularly generous? Why not get creative, by sharing them with your local kinksters, sensual historians, or I don't know, your local, sexually repressed or homophobic politician? It might just brighten their day.
Recycle your adult toys with Passionfruit
At Passionfruit, we’ve created our very own sex toy recycling depot!
Recycling your toys isn’t as simple as tossing a yogurt cup in the bin, so we’re stepping in to help. Bring us your retired lovers, and we’ll handle the recycling for you with the help of our local e-waste specialists.
1. Clean your toys
If you don't have toy cleaner, you can wash them using hot soapy water, some disinfectant spray and damp cloth for non submersibles!
2. Place in a sealed bag
To ensure your ex-lovers don't slip out in transit, store them in a sealed bag.
3. Drop off
Place the toy/s in our recycling program bin in-store. Look out for the black bin with a recycling sticker on it or ask one of our friendly staff.
Have any further suggestions, recommendations, or perhaps you're in the business of rehomed playthings? Get in touch with us if you have any follow up questions around responsible toy disposal, rehoming and recycling.
As a thank you for doing your part, we’ll give you 10% off your next toy purchase!
Because, let’s face it, losing a beloved toy is tough, you shouldn’t have to bury the body alone.