News

Donations gladly accepted for pre-loved toys scheme

Friday 25 November 2022

This Christmas, why not give those unwanted and pre-loved toys lying around the house to families who may find this time of year more challenging?

For the fourth 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 and Victoria Evangelical Church and Carrick Community Form to deliver a toy donation scheme.

The project will run until Saturday 17 December. Christmas containers are set up at five household recycling centres and three leisure centres across Mid and East Antrim - with an additional drop off point at Carrickfergus Enterprise - so pre-loved toys can be given a new home this festive season.

Details and times for drop-off are:

Ballymena area:

  • Waveney Road HRC, Ballymena – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm.
  • Seven Towers Leisure Centre.

Larne area:

  • Redlands HRC, Larne – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm.
  • Larne South HRC, Islandmagee – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm.
  • Glenarm HRC – Wednesday and Saturday 9am – 5pm.
  • Larne Leisure Centre.

Carrickfergus area:

  • Sullatober HRC, Carrickfergus – Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 1pm – 5pm.
  • Amphitheatre Leisure Centre.

Site attendants and leisure centre staff will direct residents to the Christmas Toy Container at each site. Council will then donate the toys to local charities, who will provide access to the public to purchase them at a very reasonable price.  They will also be donated to local community centres, who will gift them to families across the Borough.

Over 8.5 million toys are thrown away each year in the UK.  In 2021, Council diverted over 2.5 tonne of toys from landfill and gifted to local communities.  Council is aiming to exceed this figure this Christmas, which will help reduce landfill, protect the environment and help others.

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