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Amcor’s recycling technology has supported the creation of playground equipment made using recycled plastic toys previously collected through a UK and Ireland toy takeback initiative.
The project provides an example of how recycled plastic can be used in new long life applications. The equipment supplied for Ronald McDonald House Charities House Oxford includes an activity course, pyramid den, interactive wall, and activity table. These items were designed to be accessible for a wide range of children and to help encourage both physical and cognitive play. The recycled plastic components can be mechanically recycled again where appropriate recycling facilities exist.
The project also involved the reprocessing of collected toys at Amcor’s Leamington Spa recycling site, which processes rigid plastics and films in the UK. Selected restaurants in the UK and Ireland hosted a toy collection initiative where customers could return plastic toys for recycling. These toys, along with surplus items retained during restaurant closures in the first national lockdown, were incorporated into this programme.
The process, coordinated by circular design specialists, included shredding the toys and separating non plastic materials, carried out at the Leamington Spa facility. The plastic was cleaned and then used to manufacture recycled plastic lumber at Amcor’s facility in Dumfries. This material was then used to create the playground equipment, which was designed to suit its technical properties and meet the requirements of Ronald McDonald House Charities UK.
A representative from Plaswood commented: “We are pleased to have contributed to a project that demonstrates how used plastic can be reprocessed for new applications that support community spaces.”
The recycled plastic lumber used in this installation is water resistant and easy to clean. Unlike untreated timber, it does not absorb moisture, which can reduce the risk of rot or splintering under normal outdoor conditions. The material is suitable for a range of outdoor furniture and equipment. In a separate project, the company also produced a picnic bench using plastic sourced from a river clean up initiative.
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