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Join Busta and friends on an epic
new mission to protect the planet!
Recycle your broken hard plastic toys
and win books for your school!
Calling all UK schools
All nursery and primary schools across the UK (with pupils aged 2-11 years) can now take part in Recycle to Read.
Search your home for any unwanted or broken hard plastic toys.
Check which toys you can recycle with us here.
Give toys a second life by passing them on to friends, family, charity shops or toy swaps or sales at your school. Take any broken hard plastic toys to a participating large Tesco store near you.
Log your recycling by scanning the QR code on the collection unit and earn a Planet Care Point for your school. Every entry helps your school climb the leaderboard for a chance to win books and you’ll also be entered into the weekly book prize draw!*
*Terms and conditions apply
Watch Busta, Pong and Roach head to Tesco to discover what type of toys
they can recycle to get books for schools.
Log in or register for a free school account on The Pod, sign up to Recycle to Read Toys and your school will appear in the recycling form so you can start collecting points.
Use the campaign pack — with ready-to-use resources, education content, and activities — to engage families, support learning and help your school earn points.
Watch your school rise up the national leaderboard — the higher you rank, the more book vouchers your school can win*
At 12:00 midday (GMT) on Thursday 22nd April 2027, the School Leaderboard will close, and the top 200 schools will win book vouchers worth between £30 and £500, based on their final ranking*.
*Terms and conditions apply
No battery powered, electronic or electrical toys, rubber or flexible plastic toys,
metal or slime toys, soft toys, puzzles, inflatables, wooden toys, toys with fabric parts
or packaging – we don’t want things that will mess with our recycling magic!
Any battery powered, electronic and electrical items to be recycled, including toys must be recycled separately,
find your nearest electricals recycling point on the Recycle Your Electricals website. Check out the Hidden Treasure Hunt to help your school win tech by recycling your e-toys too!
Check our FAQs for more details.
Find your nearest participating Tesco store with a Recycle to Read bin on the map below.
New stores will appear on the map as they go live across the UK!
The race is on! At 12:00 midday (GMT) on Thursday 22nd April 2027, the School Leaderboard will close, and the top 200 schools will win book vouchers worth between £30 and £500, based on their final ranking*. Winning schools can use their vouchers to choose from an exciting range of fiction and non-fiction titles for ages 3–11 from the Recycle to Read Book Catalogue.
Boost your school’s position on the School Leaderboard by hosting a book and toy swap or sale. Simply organise the event, take a photo, and email it - along with your school’s name - to info@recycletoread.org to earn
50 bonus Planet Care Points!
You'll find a handy guide in your campaign pack!
All books in the Recycle to Read Book Catalogue are 20% off or more when you use a Recycle to Read book voucher.
Every school that registers to take part — and everyone who registers their recycling to support them — will receive a voucher code giving 20% off books from the Recycle to Read Book Catalogue. See our FAQs for full details.
*Terms and conditions apply
The Recycle to Read Book Catalogue features excellent environmental and nature-themed books that support classroom learning and spark meaningful conversations. These titles help teachers bring sustainability to life through storytelling — making caring for the planet, protecting wildlife and reducing waste more relatable, memorable and inspiring for pupils.
Discover the books that you can redeem your vouchers for - amazing fiction and non-fiction for ages 3-11.
See the whole range in the Recycle to Read Book Catalogue!
Story Zoo is home to over 700 e-books, filled with vibrant characters, magical worlds, and engaging stories for children aged 3–10. Designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire a lifelong love of reading, Story Zoo works closely with schools and families to help children begin their reading journey and unlock a world of opportunity.
If your school is signed up to Recycle to Read, you can unlock your free 1-year of access to Story Zoo by registering on Story Zoo here.
There are many brilliant programmes helping schools build libraries and inspire a love of reading. Alongside Recycle to Read, here are some trusted ways schools can access free or subsidised books for their pupils.
A flagship programme supporting schools to create or improve their libraries.
What it offers:
• Free or subsidised books for eligible schools
• Support to set up or refresh school libraries
• Reading for pleasure resources and guidance
Best for: Schools with limited or no library provision
A leading children’s publisher supporting schools with access to high-quality books.
What it offers:
• Discounted books for schools through partnerships (including Recycle to Read fulfilment)
• Curriculum-aligned titles and reading for pleasure books
• Author events, resources, and literacy support initiatives
Best for: Building and refreshing school book stock with high-quality, affordable titles
Every child receives a book token to exchange for a free book or get money off a title.
What it offers:
• Free book tokens for all pupils
• Exclusive £1 books each year
• Classroom resources and activity packs
Best for: Universal access – every child can own a book
Allows schools and families to access books digitally through local libraries.
What it offers:
• Free e-books and audiobooks with a library membership
• Access via app or browser
• Wide range of children’s titles
Best for: Free access to books through local authority libraries
Provides free books and reading support programmes.
What it offers:
• Book gifting programmes (e.g. Bookstart)
• Resources for schools and families
• Campaigns promoting reading for pleasure
Best for: Early years and whole-school reading culture
Connects schools with libraries and national reading campaigns.
What it offers:
• Summer Reading Challenge
• Reading engagement programmes
• Links to local libraries and resources
Best for: Sustaining reading habits beyond school
Schools earn free books through parent purchases.
What it offers:
• Book fairs and in-school book clubs
• Rewards in free books based on sales
• Wide range of affordable children’s books
Best for: Building book stock through community engagement
A structured approach to teaching literacy through high-quality texts.
What it offers:
• Curated book lists
• Teaching resources linked to texts
• Whole-school literacy improvement
Best for: Embedding books into the curriculum
Provides books to schools and communities with limited access.
What it offers:
• Book donations for schools in need
• Support for disadvantaged communities
Best for: Schools with budget constraints
A free online library supporting reading at home and in school.
What it offers:
• Free access to a wide range of e-books for children aged 3–11
• Phonics and reading support resources
• Teacher and parent guidance
Best for: Free digital access to books and reading practice
A large digital library widely used by schools and families.
What it offers:
• Thousands of e-books, audiobooks, and learning videos
• Free access for educators (paid for families)
• Personalised reading recommendations
Best for: Classroom digital libraries and independent reading
A book-sharing initiative where children, families and schools hide once-loved books for others to discover.
What it offers:
• A simple way to pass on books and give them a new life
• Printable tags to turn books into hidden treasures
• A fun, real-world adventure that inspires children to discover a love for reading
Best for: Families, schools and communities who want to share books through fun local discovery
By combining Recycle to Read with other initiatives, schools can maximise access to books and inspire a lifelong love of reading in every child.
Maybe it went everywhere with you, made you laugh, helped you feel brave, or was part of an adventure you'll always remember. But there comes a time when we're ready to say goodbye to some of our toys. If they can still be played with, they can be passed on for someone else to love. And if they're broken beyond use, some toys can be recycled so their materials can have a new life.
We want you to tell us the story of your toy – the adventures you shared, why it was special to you,
and what you hope happens to it next.
Choose a toy that you have loved and tell us its story. We'd love to hear:
Perhaps another child will love it as much as you did. Or perhaps its recycled plastic could become something completely new! Give your story a brilliant title and let your imagination take it from there.
Teachers can also submit stories from several children in their class.
Your story could become part of a REAL BOOK!
Selected young authors will:
Some brilliant stories have already been selected – and we're extending the competition to give even more children the chance to become part of the finished book.
The My Toy and Me book is planned to be launched for World Book Day 2027.
Entries close: 12:00 midday, Wednesday 20 January 2027.
Selected contributors will be contacted in February 2027.
Book launch: World Book Day – Thursday 4 March 2027.
Please email stories to info@wastebuster.co.uk with your school name.
Ensure each entry clearly includes the child’s name and age.
Save clothes, bed sheets, paired shoes and accessories from being lost in cupboards and drawers and get £200 per tonne (20p per kilo) in book vouchers!
Fill a battery collection box for chance to get £30 in book vouchers and other exciting prizes.
You can email us at info@recycletoread.org
Visit our FAQs for more info.
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