Derry’s role in reducing landfill waste through community sharing

As families across the island of Ireland continue to feel the pinch of rising costs, Toy Libraries offer a playful solution. A new episode from the Sustainable Conversations podcast brings together three advocates of the Toy Library movement to discuss how "borrowing instead of buying" is helping local communities.

The conversation features Becca from Zero Waste North West in Derry, Maeve from Banbridge Toy Library, and Louise from Clonmel Toy Library. Together, they discuss how shifting from a culture of "ownership" to "membership" can significantly reduce household spending all while diverting waste from landfills.

“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, toy libraries provide a critical solution,” says George Gillespie, Northern Ireland Resources Network, Community Network Manager. 

“Toy Libraries are a practical, community led response to two of the biggest challenges facing families across Ireland today: rising living costs and unnecessary waste. By sharing high quality toys instead of buying new, families can save money while reducing their environmental footprint.

"We are especially proud to see members of Northern Ireland Resources Network and Community Resources Network Ireland leading the way, demonstrating how local reuse initiatives can deliver real social, economic and environmental impact. This is a circular economy in action strengthening communities while protecting our planet.”

READ NEXT: 62% of drivers support crackdown on pavement parking

Key highlights of the discussion include:

• Cost Cutting: How memberships allow parents to provide new toys for their children without the price tag of new toys.
• The Circular Economy: The environmental impact of "re-loving" toys across multiple families to reduce consumption.
• Social Connection: The role of toy libraries as community hubs that help develop social play for children and parents.
• Challenges: A candid look at the need for physical space, sustainable funding, and volunteers required to keep these libraries running.

Expanding toy libraries across Ireland would be a practical response to both climate change and financial pressure. This podcast serves as both a celebration of their success and a call to action for other communities to follow suit.

The full conversation is available to stream now https://bit.ly/4kvihmA.