Terms and Conditions

Recycle to Read Toys Campaign 2026–27

Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

• “the Campaign”
  Refers to the Recycle to Read Toys Campaign 2026–27, an ongoing nationwide toy recycling initiative delivered by Wastebuster in association with Products of Change in collaboration with its partners, with the support of its members.
• “Eligible School”
  Any school located in mainland England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland with pupils aged 4 to 11 years that meets the participation criteria for the Campaign.
• “Participating School”
  An Eligible School that has registered to take part in the Recycle to Read Toys Campaign 2026–27 via The Pod and is actively taking part in the Campaign.
• “The Pod”
  Wastebuster’s free environmental education and campaign platform used for school registration and accessing Campaign resources (The Pod).
• “Planet Care Points”
  Points awarded for each registered recycling visit. Each individual recycling visit earns one point (regardless of the number of toys recycled) that is allocated to a nominated Participating School. These points determine a school’s ranking on the School Leaderboard and its eligibility for prizes.
• “Book Voucher Code”
  A code issued as a reward or prize during the Campaign. Each voucher holds a credit redeemable exclusively for books from the Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue.
• “Discount Code”
  A code provided to enable schools to purchase books at a discounted price from the Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue, subject to on-screen instructions. Users should also refer to the FAQs on the catalogue page for usage details.
• “School Leaderboard”
  A ranking system displayed on the Campaign website that lists Participating Schools in order of the total Planet Care Points they have earned (Leaderboard).
• “Community Champion”
  A Tesco Community Champion working at a Tesco store participating in Recycle to Read and eligible to enter the Tesco Community Champions Prize Draw.
• “Toy Rehoming Event”
  An event organised by a Participating School to rehome (pass on) toys in good condition. Schools hosting such events may claim an additional 50 bonus Planet Care Points (subject to verification) by submitting a photo and event details (including date, description, school name, and postcode) to info@recycletoread.org. All toy rehoming events must be conducted in accordance with the British Toy and Hobbycraft Association (BTHA) guidelines for safe toy rehoming.
• “Promoter”
  Wastebuster CIC (company number: 05883640), whose registered address is The Bothy, Albury Park, Albury, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 9BH.
• “Campaign Partners”
  The Campaign Partners are: Wastebuster, Products of Change, Tesco PLC, Mattel, Operational Partners and Members of Recycle to Read.

2. General Recycle to Read Participation and Recycling Terms

2.1 Eligibility

• The Campaign is open to Eligible Schools and to private individuals recycling their own broken hard plastic toys on behalf of a school. Businesses, retailers, manufacturers, or other non-household entities are not permitted to use this service.

2.2 Registration

• Schools: To participate, an Eligible School must register for a free account on The Pod if they do not already have an account, and then sign up for the Recycle to Read Toys Campaign. Only registered Participating Schools are eligible to receive Planet Care Points and redeem book rewards.
• Individuals: Private individuals may support a Participating School by scanning the QR code on a Recycle to Read collection unit and registering their recycling visit by completing the form on the Get Points page on the Campaign website.

2.3 Recycling Process and Toy Acceptance

Accepted Items

• Only small, broken, hard plastic toys are accepted for recycling. Toys must be clean, dry, and not enclosed in plastic bags. Toys may include minor parts made from materials such as metal, rubber, or synthetic hair.

Excluded Items

The Campaign does NOT accept:

• Toys with batteries or electronic/electrical components including solar panels (these should be recycled separately at dedicated e-waste collection points, e.g. Recycle Your Electricals);
• Toys with fabric parts;
• Plush or soft toys;
• Wooden toys;
• Board games (except for small hard plastic parts they contain);
• Slime or rubber toys;
• Toy packaging;
• Sit-on toys with wheels;
• Inflatables;
• Any toy that does not fit into the designated collection bin.

Collection Procedure

• Broken hard plastic toys should be taken to a designated collection bin at a participating Tesco store. Bins are typically located behind the tills, often near battery and water filter collection points. If a collection bin is full, please do not leave toys beside it; instead, visit another participating store or return on a later day.

Manual Registration

• If you forget to scan the QR code on the bin, you can register your recycling visit via the “Get Points” page on the Recycle to Read website.

2.4 Participating Tesco Stores

• A list of participating Tesco stores is provided on the recycling point map on the Campaign website.

2.5 Additional Guidance

• If a toy is still in good condition, please consider rehoming it rather than recycling, as rehoming is better for the environment.
• If an individual wishes to earn points for more than one school during the same store visit, separate recycling visits must be registered—using different email addresses or by registering on different days.

3. Voucher and Discount Codes

3.1 Issuance and Value

• Book voucher codes are issued as rewards or prizes in increments of £5 (i.e. £5, £10, £15, etc.) up to £100. For values above £100, vouchers are issued in multiples of £100 (i.e. £100, £200, £300, etc.). The minimum voucher value is £5.
• Discount codes may also be issued for use when purchasing books from the Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue.

3.2 Redemption

• Schools and individuals must follow the on-screen instructions on the Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue to redeem voucher or discount codes.
• Only one voucher or discount code may be used per transaction.
• Voucher codes may only be redeemed once and have no cash value. If the cost of the books exceeds the voucher value, the balance must be paid by other means; any unused voucher value is forfeited.

3.3 Free Postage

• Orders placed using a prize book voucher code will include free postage and packaging (valued at £2.95). This offer does not apply to discount codes.

3.4 Expiry and Liability

• Voucher codes issued as part of the Campaign will expire 12 months from the date of issue (unless otherwise specified) and cannot be reissued or refunded if lost or redeemed without the consent of the recipient.

4. School Leaderboard Competition – closes 22 April 2027

4.1 How to Enter

• Eligible Schools must register on The Pod and sign up for the Campaign. Upon registration, the school’s name will appear in the drop-down list on the “Get Points” page and, once points are earned, on the School Leaderboard.
• Schools are automatically entered into the Competition to collect the highest number of Planet Care Points. Points are awarded for each registered recycling visit (see Clause 4.5).
• No purchase is necessary to enter any part of this Campaign.

4.2 Leaderboard Closure and Book Rewards

• At 12:00 midday (UK time) on Thursday 22 April 2027 – Earth Day, the final School Leaderboard positions for the 2026–27 School Leaderboard Competition will be recorded. The top 200 Participating Schools will receive book voucher rewards worth between £30 and £500, according to their final ranking.
• Only Planet Care Points successfully awarded by 12:00 midday (UK time) on 22 April 2027 will count towards the final ranking.
• Registrations received after this deadline will not alter the results of the 2026–27 School Leaderboard Competition.
• The closure of the School Leaderboard Competition does not necessarily mean that the Recycle to Read collection service itself will cease on this date.
• Winning schools can use their vouchers to choose from a range of fiction and non-fiction titles for ages 4–11 from the Collins Recycle to Read Book Catalogue:
  • Rank 1: £500 voucher code
  • Ranks 2–3: £300 voucher code each
  • Ranks 4–10: £200 voucher code each
  • Ranks 11–25: £100 voucher code each
  • Ranks 26–50: £75 voucher code each
  • Ranks 51–100: £50 voucher code each
  • Ranks 101–200: £30 voucher code each
• Voucher codes for Leaderboard rewards will be emailed to winning schools.

4.3 Donation Option

• A winning school may request to donate its prize voucher to another UK school or community group that supports children aged 4–11 years. Such requests must be made in writing by emailing info@wastebuster.co.uk. In the absence of a donation request, Wastebuster will, where possible, prioritise selection of schools based on the free school meals (FSM) index as measured by the National Literacy Trust.

4.4 Competition Terms and Liability

• All prizes are subject to availability and have no cash alternative.
• Where necessary, Wastebuster reserves the right to substitute a prize with an alternative of equal or greater value.
• Wastebuster’s decision regarding the administration and results of the Competition is final.
• Wastebuster reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw the Competition where circumstances outside its reasonable control or other operational circumstances make this necessary.
• In the instance where there is a tie in the number of Planet Care Points earned by more than one school, the school that was first to earn that ranking will retain it.
• Wastebuster reserves the right to reject or remove fraudulent, manipulated, invalid or otherwise ineligible registrations or entries.
• Wastebuster does not limit its liability where such limitation is unlawful (including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or for fraud/fraudulent misrepresentation). Except as specified, Wastebuster, its employees, officers, and agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the Competition.

4.5 Planet Care Points

Standard Recycling

• Individuals may register their toy recycling visit only once per day. Each registration earns a maximum of one Planet Care Point per day—regardless of the number of toys recycled—which is awarded to the nominated Participating School.
  • Registration can be completed by scanning the QR code on the collection bin at a participating Tesco store or by visiting the Recycle to Read Get Points page.

Toy Rehoming Events (Bonus Points)

• Participating Schools can claim an additional 50 Planet Care Points by hosting and registering a Toy Rehoming Event during the Campaign period. To claim these bonus points, schools must send a photo and event details (including the date, description, school name, and postcode) to info@recycletoread.org.
• Evidence of a Toy Rehoming Event must be submitted by 12:00 midday (UK time) on Tuesday 13 April 2027 to allow sufficient time for verification.
• Once the event details have been successfully verified by Wastebuster, the bonus points will be awarded. Verification may take up to seven working days. All bonus points must have been successfully verified and awarded before the School Leaderboard closes at 12:00 midday (UK time) on Thursday 22 April 2027 to count towards the final ranking.
• Important: All Toy Rehoming Events must be conducted in accordance with the British Toy and Hobbycraft Association (BTHA) guidelines for safe toy rehoming. The Participating School is solely responsible for:
  • Undertaking all necessary risk assessments;
  • Ensuring proper health and safety protocols are implemented; and
  • Maintaining any required insurance.

By registering a Toy Rehoming Event, the Participating School acknowledges that it has read and will adhere to these guidelines and accepts responsibility for conducting all necessary risk assessments, ensuring appropriate health and safety protocols, and maintaining any required insurance. Failure to comply may result in the forfeiture of bonus points.

4.6 Promoter and Partners

• Promoter: Wastebuster CIC (company number: 05883640), whose registered address is The Bothy, Albury Park, Albury, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 9BH.
• Campaign Partners: The Campaign Partners are: Wastebuster, Products of Change, Tesco PLC, Mattel, Operational Partners and Members of Recycle to Read.

5. Tesco Community Champions Prize Draw – 2026/27

5.1 Eligibility

• The Tesco Community Champions Prize Draws are open to Tesco Community Champions working at Tesco stores participating in Recycle to Read.
• No purchase is necessary.

5.2 How to Enter

• To enter, a Tesco Community Champion should email a photograph of themselves and/or their store colleagues with their store’s Recycle to Read collection unit to info@wastebuster.co.uk.
• The entry should include:
  • the Community Champion’s name;
  • the Tesco store name/location;
  • a contact email address; and
  • a photograph taken with the Recycle to Read collection unit.
• Community Champions are encouraged to display Recycle to Read Community Champion posters/materials, make store colleagues aware of the collection service, and encourage local schools and families to participate. These activities are encouraged but are not a condition of entry.
• The person submitting a photograph must have permission from any identifiable colleagues appearing in the photograph to submit it for the administration of the competition. Any wider publication or promotional use of identifiable photographs will be subject to appropriate additional permissions.

5.3 Termly Prize Draws

• There will be three Community Champion prize draws during the 2026/27 school year, with up to 10 winners selected in each draw.
• The closing dates are:
  • Autumn Term Draw: 12:00 midday (UK time), Friday 11 December 2026
  • Spring Term Draw: 12:00 midday (UK time), Friday 12 March 2027
  • Summer Term Draw: 12:00 midday (UK time), Friday 18 June 2027
• Valid entries received after a termly closing date will automatically roll over into the following term’s draw unless the entrant has already won.
• A Community Champion may only win one £100 school book reward during the 2026/27 competition.
• Up to 10 winners will be selected at random from valid entries for each termly draw.
• Winners will be notified within 10 working days of the relevant closing date using the contact details supplied with their entry.

5.4 Community Champion Prizes

• Up to 10 winning Community Champions per term will each receive £100 of children’s books for an eligible UK school of their choice.
• The reward will be provided as a £100 Recycle to Read book voucher/code. The reward:
  • has no cash alternative;
  • is for the benefit of the nominated school; and
  • is subject to the normal Recycle to Read book voucher redemption conditions.
• Each winning Community Champion will also receive a Recycle to Read Community Champion Award certificate recognising their contribution to children’s literacy and environmental action, which they may display in store.
• Where practical and subject to agreement with the school and Tesco, winning Community Champions may be offered the opportunity to present the £100 book reward to their nominated school.

5.5 Busta Special Visit

• All Community Champions who submit a valid entry during the 2026/27 competition will also be eligible for a special campaign opportunity.
• One Community Champion/store and their nominated school will be selected for a special Recycle to Read visit featuring Busta, the character leading the Campaign.
• The recipient will be selected by Wastebuster and Tesco based on positive engagement with Recycle to Read. This may include colleague awareness, local school or community engagement, creativity and overall contribution to the Campaign.
• The visit may include a school and/or store appearance, photographs, filming, and an opportunity for the Community Champion and colleagues to participate in campaign interviews or content.
• The precise nature, location and timing of the visit will be agreed by Wastebuster, Tesco and the participating school/store and will be subject to availability, safeguarding requirements, permissions and operational considerations.

5.6 General Conditions

• All prizes are subject to availability and have no cash alternative.
• Wastebuster reserves the right to substitute a prize with an alternative of equal or greater value where necessary.
• Wastebuster and Tesco reserve the right to reject fraudulent, incomplete, invalid or otherwise ineligible entries.
• Wastebuster’s decision regarding the administration of the prize draws and the Busta special visit selection is final.
• Wastebuster reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw the promotion where circumstances outside its reasonable control or other operational circumstances make this necessary.
• The provisions regarding use of personal information in Clause 7.6 apply.

6. My Toy and Me Competition – closes 20 January 2027

6.1 Overview

The “My Toy and Me” Competition (the “Competition”) is an additional creative writing competition delivered as part of the Recycle to Read Campaign.

The entry period has been extended to give more children across the UK the opportunity to share their creativity and ideas and have the chance to contribute to the development of the My Toy and Me book.

The extended entry period enables the Promoter to select additional contributions for the finished book and does not affect children whose entries have already been selected.

This Competition operates alongside the main Recycle to Read Terms and Conditions. Unless expressly stated otherwise, all existing Terms and Conditions apply.

6.2 Promoter

The Promoter is Wastebuster CIC (“the Promoter”).

6.3 Eligibility

• The Competition is open to children aged 4–11 years resident in the United Kingdom.
• Entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian, or teacher on behalf of the child.
• Only one entry per child is permitted.

6.4 Entry Requirements

• Entries must be original stories written by the child.
• Entries may optionally include a drawing or photograph to accompany the story.
• Entries must not contain any content that is inappropriate, offensive, or infringes the rights of any third party.
• The parent, guardian or teacher submitting an entry confirms that they have the necessary authority and permissions to submit the story and any accompanying material on behalf of the child.

6.5 Theme

Entries should tell a story about a toy, including an adventure involving the toy and what happens next. Stories may explore ways of keeping toys in play through rehoming, repairing, reusing, reinventing or recycling.

6.6 Deadline

• Entries must be received by 12:00 midday (UK time) on Wednesday 20 January 2027.
• Entries received after 12:00 midday (UK time) on 20 January 2027 will not be considered for selection.

6.7 Selection of Contributions

• Wastebuster will select a number of entries for inclusion in the finished My Toy and Me book.
• Entries will be considered according to:
  • creativity;
  • imagination;
  • storytelling;
  • relevance to the Campaign themes;
  • how effectively the story explores keeping toys in play through rehoming, repairing, reusing, reinventing or recycling; and
  • creating a good overall mix of ages, stories and perspectives for the finished book.
• The Promoter retains discretion over the final number of entries selected in order to create the finished book.
• The Promoter’s decision is final.

6.8 Entrants Previously Selected

• Any entrants previously notified by the Promoter that their story has been selected for inclusion in the My Toy and Me book will retain their selected status. The extended entry period enables the Promoter to select additional contributions for the finished book.

6.9 Selected Contributors and Prizes

• Children whose stories are selected for the finished publication and their schools will each receive a copy of the finished My Toy and Me book.
• The book may be published through a third-party publishing platform (such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing) or through another publishing method selected by the Promoter.
• Any revenue generated from book sales will be reinvested into the Recycle to Read Book Fund, supporting the provision of books to schools and families.
• Prizes have no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize with an alternative of equal or greater value where necessary.

6.10 Guest and Ambassador Contributors

• The Promoter may also invite guest, Ambassador or other contributors to provide additional stories, messages, illustrations or other content for the finished publication. Such invited contributions are separate from the Competition and do not affect the selection or prizes awarded to Competition entrants.

6.11 Notification of Additional Selected Contributors

• Additional selected contributors will be notified by the Promoter on or around 5 February 2027 using the contact details supplied with their entry.
• Parents, guardians or teachers may be asked to provide final permissions or information required for publication and will be given a reasonable period in which to respond.

6.12 Intended World Book Day Publication

• The Promoter intends to publish, announce and make copies of the finished My Toy and Me book available on or around World Book Day, Thursday 4 March 2027. This is an intended publication date and may be changed where necessary due to editorial, production, printing, distribution or other circumstances outside the Promoter’s reasonable control.

6.13 Intellectual Property, Editing and Usage Rights

By submitting an entry, the entrant (and their parent, guardian, or teacher on their behalf) agrees that the Promoter may:

• publish and reproduce the entry, including text and any accompanying images;
• make reasonable editorial changes for spelling and grammar, punctuation, length, formatting and layout, and editorial consistency;
• use selected entries in the finished publication, printed materials, digital content and promotional communications; and
• attribute selected work using the child’s first name, age and school where permission has been provided.

When editing a selected entry, the Promoter will seek to retain the essential character and meaning of the child’s original work.

The entrant confirms that the submission is the child’s own original work and does not infringe the rights of any third party.

The Promoter will not publish children’s full personal details.

6.14 Images and Permissions

• Entries may include an optional drawing or photograph.
• The parent, guardian or teacher submitting the entry confirms that they have the necessary authority and permission to submit any accompanying material.
• Where a photograph contains an identifiable child, appropriate consent will be obtained before the photograph is published in the finished book or used in promotional materials.

6.15 Data Protection

• Personal data will be used for the administration of the Competition and, where applicable, the preparation, publication and fulfilment of the finished book.
• Data will not be shared with third parties except where necessary for administration, fulfilment or publication purposes.
• All data will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation and the Campaign’s Data Protection Notice.

6.16 General

• The Promoter reserves the right to reject fraudulent, invalid, inappropriate or otherwise ineligible entries.
• The Promoter reserves the right to amend, suspend or withdraw the Competition where circumstances outside its reasonable control or other operational circumstances make this necessary.
• Entry into the Competition constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

7. General Terms and Conditions

7.1 Amendments

• Wastebuster and The Pod reserve the right to make reasonable amendments to these Terms and Conditions where necessary. Material changes affecting Participating Schools and individuals will be communicated via the contact email provided within 30 days of the change where appropriate.

7.2 Precedence

• Where specific terms relating to particular materials, competitions or uses appear on The Pod or related websites, those specific terms shall prevail over these general Terms and Conditions.

7.3 Publicity and Licence

• By participating in the Campaign, each school consents to being publicly identified as a participant. Wastebuster grants each school a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use Campaign materials for promotional purposes until the school’s participation ends or the Campaign concludes.

7.4 Intellectual Property

• Wastebuster retains full control and ownership of all intellectual property rights associated with the Campaign, whether existing or developed in the future. All intellectual property rights in the Campaign materials (including branding, artwork, videos, and educational content) are and shall remain the exclusive property of Wastebuster or its licensors. These materials may not be reproduced, distributed, or modified without prior written consent.

7.5 Liability

• Except in cases where liability cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, Wastebuster shall not be liable for any loss or damage (whether arising in contract, tort—including negligence—or otherwise) in connection with the Campaign or any Competitions. This includes any loss resulting from unredeemed voucher code value.
• Wastebuster does not limit its liability where such limitation is unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or for fraud/fraudulent misrepresentation.
• Wastebuster shall not be held liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under these Terms and Conditions where such delay or failure is caused by events beyond its reasonable control.

7.6 Use of Personal Information

• All personal information collected in relation to the Campaign will be processed in accordance with our Data Protection Notice. An adult’s email address is required when registering a recycling visit to validate entries, administer Leaderboard rewards and provide Campaign updates. Personal information will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes without consent.

7.7 Corporate Support and Donations

• Wastebuster administers the distribution of corporate donations of new books to schools. Businesses wishing to donate books or become corporate supporters should contact our corporate team at info@wastebuster.co.uk.
• A winning school may request to donate its reward voucher to another eligible UK school or community group by replying to the prize notification email or contacting info@wastebuster.co.uk.

7.8 Campaign Termination and Costs

• Wastebuster may terminate the Campaign by giving 60 days’ written notice to Participating Schools. The amendment, suspension or withdrawal of an individual competition or promotion does not necessarily mean that the Recycle to Read collection service itself will cease.
• Participating Schools are responsible for any costs incurred in connection with the Campaign, except where expressly agreed otherwise in writing by Wastebuster.

7.9 Relationship

• Participation in the Campaign does not create a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between the school and Wastebuster. Neither party shall represent itself as an agent or employee of the other.

7.10 Collection Bin Issues

• Any issues with collection bins are managed by Wastebuster and not by Tesco staff. For any bin-related problems, please contact info@recycletoread.org.

7.11 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

• These Terms and Conditions and the Campaign shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

By participating in the Recycle to Read Toys Campaign, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

8. Closed/Archived Promotions

Closed Promotion – Daily Book Giveaway 2026

This promotion has now closed. The Daily Book Giveaway ran from 22 April 2026 to 8 July 2026 and is retained below for reference only.

8.1 Overview

• The Daily Book Giveaway was a promotional prize draw delivered as part of the Recycle to Read Campaign. Eligible participants (schools and individuals) were entered into a daily prize draw to win children’s books.

8.2 Draw Structure

• The promotion operated as a daily prize draw, with one winner allocated per day.
• For administrative purposes, seven winners were selected at the end of each week, representing each day of that week (Monday–Sunday).
• Each winner was randomly selected from eligible entries received on the corresponding day.

8.3 Draw Period

• Phase 1: 22 April 2026 – 31 May 2026
  • Prizes fulfilled by Campaign Partners.
• Phase 2: 1 June 2026 – 8 July 2026
  • Prizes fulfilled by the Promoter via a third-party supplier.

8.4 Entry

• Each valid participation, as defined in the Campaign Terms and Conditions applicable at the time, automatically entered the participant into the Daily Book Giveaway.
• Entries were allocated to the day on which they were received.

8.5 Prizes

• Each winner received one children’s book.
• Books included titles selected by the Promoter and Campaign Partners.
• The Promoter reserved the right to substitute prizes with alternatives of equal or greater value where necessary.

8.6 Winner Selection and Restrictions

• Winners were selected at random.
• No school or individual was permitted to win more than once in the Daily Book Giveaway.
• Once selected as a winner, that school or individual was excluded from subsequent draws under the promotion.

8.7 Notification and Fulfilment

• Winners could be notified up to seven working days after the relevant draw period.
• Winners were required to provide delivery details when requested.
• During Phase 1, prizes were dispatched by Campaign Partners.
• During Phase 2, prizes were dispatched by a third-party supplier appointed by the Promoter.

8.8 Data Sharing and Confidentiality

• Winner details, limited to name, school name where applicable, and delivery address, could be shared with fulfilment partners strictly for prize delivery and fulfilment.
• Fulfilment partners were required to use the data solely for fulfilment purposes, not contact winners or schools for marketing or other purposes without the Promoter’s prior written consent, and comply with applicable data protection legislation.

8.9 General

• The Daily Book Giveaway 2026 is now closed and no further entries are being accepted.