Being a father has altered my approach to life on a variety of platforms - most for the better. For example, I have made it a point to recycle all designated materials for the future of my children. It's not that I didn't recycle in the past, I did but not to the extent I do today.


I got started by consulting my local municipality website. Admittedly, it took some digging to find the respective information for each recycling category (batteries, old cell phones and computers, paint cans, used cooking oil) but alas, all the information was readily available.


The one product category completely missing from the website is children's toys which lead me to thinking about the waste involved with the packaging, production as well as the relatively short lifespan of most of the items. Speaking of packaging, if you have kids you can appreciate the frustration of breaking through all those wire twist ties, small rubber bands, invisible tape and impenetrable plastic coating to release the toy from its captivity. Additionally, judging from the toys that my children have received thus far - I can say with some degree of certainty that they are not constructed with the child's best interest (creating some physical or mental stimulation) in mind.


Some thoughts to address this challenge:


Avoid Toys Made with PVC plastic - 70% of PVC is used in construction, but it is also found in everyday plastics, including some children's toys. Vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, is a known human carcinogen. Also, additives, such as lead and cadmium, are sometimes added to PVC to keep it from breaking down; these additives can be particularly dangerous in children's toys. PVC is also the least recycled plastic. Find safe toys in the National Green Pages


Don't Buy Wrapping Paper - Reuse old wrapping paper or put your gifts in reusable bags or boxes. Be creative about giving old materials new life-scraps of fabric, magazines or calendars make great patchwork bags or collage wrapping paper.


Recycle Packaging from Gifts - To reduce environmental impacts, it is important to recycle all cardboard packaging. Also, reuse peanuts or other Styrofoam packing that comes with gifts or purchases as these items will not de-compost in a landfill but can be used over and over again for packaging and shipping. The National Green Pages contains several listings for easy drop-off centers for both types of waste.


Donate your used toys - Just a few notable organizations that take your toys and provide them to underprivileged children are listed below but be sure to check locally for any other organizations that can bring joy to those less fortunate: Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, My Two Front Teeth(a nonprofit organization that provides donated toys to underprivileged children in daycare, preschools and community agencies), and Ronald McDonald House.


Most Importantly - Give Gifts from the Heart.


Recently I was invited to a child's birthday party and the invitation asked instead of presents that donations be made to a local children's charity. Such a great idea! There are many other thoughtful gifts - taking the kids for ice cream, sleepovers, a day at the zoo... just take a minute and think before you purchase that flashing, clicking, whizzing thingamajig that will keep the child's attention for all of 15 minutes before being discarded.