Los Angeles Area Resource for Eco-Friendly Parents

Kids Toys & Clothes

Kids toys and clothes can be recycled through donation programs or even through sale at various consignment locations around LA.

Batteries

Used batteries can be recycled at your local Radio Shack. They also offer in-store credit for old working electronics or will recycle them responsibly if they have no cash value.

Crib Sheets and Blankets

Crib sheets and blankets can be made into forts, used as blankets for the beach, reborn into Halloween costumes and more!

T-Shirts, Dresses, Onesies

The t-shirt or dress is too small, but it has special sentimental value...No Problem! Recreate your child's selection of old garments into a blanket or quilt.

Capri Sun and Honest Kids Containers

Become part of Terracycle's Drink Pouch Brigade and earn money for collecting old drink pouches to be turned into fashion bags, totes, pencil cases and more!

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard boxes can be made into a child's dreamland. From dollhouses to forts, boxes can be repurposed into fun!

Mattresses

St. Vincent de Paul is the world leader in mattress recycling. Their Oakland, California mattress recycling facility was the first commercially viable mattress recycling business in the world.

Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper can be repurposed for creating picture frame artwork, lining drawers and shelves, or shredding for packing material. The next time you have a gift to wrap, choose newspaper or a reusable bag instead of wrapping paper.

Books

BookEnds would be delighted to recycle your children's books into the hands of some great kids in need of books. They are looking for quality, gently used children's books appropriate for infants to 18 years of age.

Flip-Flops

UniquEco has a flip flop recycling program which turns old flip-flops into raw materials for local artists to create and sell their work. Through this process, they are working toward cleaning the beaches of flip-flop debris.

Polyethylene Terephtalate (PETE, PET)

Commonly found in 2-liter soft drink bottles, water bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars.

Generally safe, but can have a porous surface that allows bacteria and flavor to accumulate with reuse. This plastic is picked up by most curbside recycling programs.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Commonly found in detergent bottles and milk jugs.

This plastic is considered safe and has low risk of leaching. It is also picked up by most recycling programs.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Commonly found in plastic pipes, outdoor furniture, siding, floor tiles, shower curtains, clamshell packaging.

PVC is not considered safe, although a tough plastic, because there are phthalates that interfere with hormone development. Avoid cooking with #3 plastic, especially in the microwave, even if listed as microwave-safe.

#3 plastic is rarely accepted by recycling programs.

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Commonly found in dry-cleaning bags, produce bags, grocery bags, trash can liners, and food storage containers. This plastic is considered safe, but is not often accepted by curbside recycling programs.

Polypropylene (PP)

Commonly found in bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers.

This plastic is also considered safe, and is increasingly being accepted by curbside recycling programs.

Polystyrene (PS, Styrofoam)

Commonly found in packing peanuts, cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, take-away food clamshell containers.

Evidence is increasingly suggesting that this type of plastic leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated.

It is difficult to recycle and most recycling programs won’t accept it.

Everything Else

A mixed bag, composed of plastics which were invented after 1987.  Polycarbonate falls into this category, including BPA.

#7 plastics should be considered suspicious since any number of toxic chemicals could be part of the makeup.

It is difficult to recycle #7 plastic and most curbside recycling programs won’t accept it.