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How to Recycle Pet Toys
Rubber, plastic, and fabric toys for dogs and cats. Donation safety comes down to whether a toy can be fully washed and disinfected between uses, and shelter wish lists for toy types vary more by location than generic advice suggests.
Check local acceptanceNo cash value; donation tax deduction typically $5-$30 per bag depending on quantity and conditionLast reviewed July 30, 2026
Quick answer
Whether a used pet toy is safe to donate depends on whether it can be fully washed and disinfected before the next animal uses it, not just on how clean it looks today. Hard rubber and non-porous plastic toys usually pass that test; absorbent fabric or plush with exposed stuffing usually doesn't. West Paw's Join the Loop program regrinds worn Zogoflex and Seaflex toys into new ones by mail (100,000+ pounds recycled in 2023), and a PetSmart pilot in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona takes any brand of plastic or rubber toy in-store. Tennis balls, rope, and plush aren't included in that specific bin. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- No cash value; donation tax deduction typically $5-$30 per bag depending on quantity and condition
How to Prepare
- 1Wash toys with pet-safe detergent, or run non-porous rubber and plastic toys through a dishwasher if the material allows it
- 2Apply the sanitation test: if a toy can't be fully washed and disinfected between uses, it isn't a safe donation regardless of how clean it looks today
- 3Remove batteries from electronic toys before recycling or donating
- 4Discard toys with exposed stuffing, sharp edges, or pieces small enough to be a choking hazard
- 5Call ahead before dropping off a large donation - shelters' current needs and accepted types vary and change over time
- 6For toys too worn to donate, check whether the brand runs a take-back program before trashing
Where to Recycle
- Local animal shelters and rescues (call ahead to confirm current needs)
- West Paw's Join the Loop mail-back program (Zogoflex and Seaflex toys)
- PetSmart in-store toy recycling bin (California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona pilot; any brand of plastic/rubber toy)
- Kong and Planet Dog take-back programs for their own products
- Veterinary clinics that redistribute supplies to shelters
Special Instructions
The Humane Society of Charlotte's current list wants dog and cat toys and Kong-style indestructible toys, matching common guidance - but needs shift, and a toy that's welcome at one shelter may not be needed at another right now. West Paw's mail-back Loop program accepts its own Zogoflex and Seaflex toys for regrinding into new products. Separately, a 2024 PetSmart pilot in 75 stores across California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona lets shoppers drop off any brand of plastic or rubber toy - Kong, Nylabone, and others - which PetSmart routes to a West Paw recycler; tennis balls, rope, plush, and mixed-material toys are excluded from that bin.
Environmental Impact
West Paw's Loop program recycled more than 100,000 pounds of worn toys into new Zogoflex and Seaflex products in 2023. Rubber and plastic toys sent to landfill can take decades to break down; both the take-back programs above and shelter donation extend a toy's useful life well past a single household's use of it.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Hard rubber toys (Kong, Nylabone-style) that can be fully washed and disinfected
- Non-porous plastic toys without cracks or missing pieces
- Rope and tug toys in good condition
- Interactive puzzle and treat-dispensing toys
- Cat wands, balls, and other washable toys
Not Accepted
- Plush or fabric toys that can't be fully sanitized between uses
- Toys with exposed stuffing or choking-hazard pieces
- Electronic toys with non-removable batteries
- Recalled products (check the CPSC database)
- Tennis balls, rope, and plush specifically in the PetSmart/West Paw plastic-and-rubber recycling bin (donation is still fine for these)
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: No cash value; donation tax deduction typically $5-$30 per bag depending on quantity and condition
FAQs
How do I know if a toy is clean enough to donate, versus something I should recycle or trash?
Don't judge by appearance. Zoetis's vet-authored donation guidance for shelters frames the whole decision around one test: can this be washed and fully disinfected, not just now but every time it's used again? Hard rubber and non-porous plastic toys usually pass. Absorbent fabric, exposed stuffing, or anything that traps moisture usually doesn't, even if it looks fine today.
Is there a West Paw or Kong recycling program for toys too worn to donate?
West Paw's Join the Loop program takes back its own Zogoflex and Seaflex toys by mail and regrinds them into new products - it recycled over 100,000 pounds in 2023. Kong and Planet Dog have also advertised take-back for their own products; call to confirm current details before mailing anything in, since program specifics can change.
Does PetSmart really recycle any brand of dog toy, not just West Paw's?
In select stores, yes. A 2024 pilot at 75 PetSmart locations across California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona accepts any brand of plastic or rubber toy - Kong, Nylabone, whatever you have - in a dedicated in-store bin, routed to a West Paw recycler. It's plastic and rubber only: tennis balls, ropes, and plush toys aren't accepted in that specific bin.
Will my local shelter definitely want the toys I'm about to donate?
Call first rather than assuming. Shelter wish lists change based on current inventory - the Humane Society of Charlotte's current list wants dog and cat toys and Kong-style indestructible toys, but needs at any given shelter shift over time and by location. A five-minute call saves a trip if they're currently overstocked on what you have.
Can I recycle a squeaky toy with the squeaker still inside?
For donation, leave it in - shelters want working squeakers. For recycling, take it out first: cut open the fabric, remove the plastic squeaker, and recycle the squeaker with #2-#5 plastics if your local program accepts small mixed items. The fabric shell can go with natural-fiber textile recycling if it's cotton or wool; synthetic fabric usually can't be recycled and goes to the trash.
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