Sustainable Droxford

Sustainable Droxford Initiatives

Droxford Parish Council has been awarded a Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund from Hampshire County Council to run a Toy Swap event in Droxford, which took place on Saturday 16th September in the Village Hall.

There have been a number of initiatives designed to reuse, reduce waste and recycle in Droxford, including second-hand book events and table top sales, and now a toy swap has been set up as a cashless alternative to finding new toys, while helping to reduce waste and avoid landfill at the same time. It will provide an opportunity for parents and children to clear out their unwanted toys and donate a toy their child no longer needs in exchange for picking up another toy for free.

We hope that establishing a regular toy swap will be a great way to both bring people together and to remind everyone that what may be waste to one person may be happily re-used by somebody else – meaning a decrease in useful stuff ending up in the bin. It also means less strain on people’s pockets since it is estimated that in the UK the average spend per child on toys is £294 annually.

The event is open to all residents of the Meon Valley and beyond, who will be able to benefit in the following ways:

• Saving money - toys can be so expensive, and by attending our toy swap money is not being spent on new toys. If people are on a budget or struggling financially, as many currently are, a toy swap can provide accessibility for those who may need support and relieve some financial stress and anxiety.
• Connect with the community - meeting new people and connecting with others is not only good for our mental health and overall well-being, but can also play a part in tackling the climate crisis locally through education on avoiding landfill and waste and sharing the concept of reduce, re-use, recycle.
• Save on waste - there is a lot of packaging with children's toys and if purchases are delivered to people’s homes, there are shipping materials in addition that end up in the waste or recycling.
• Declutter - children can grow out of or lose interest in toys quickly. A toy swap can help people declutter, as well as pass on toys that are in good condition for other children to enjoy.

It is hoped that this will be the first of many swap events in Droxford. If you would like further information, or would like to get involved, please email the clerk on [email protected].