We have the answer of what to do with all those used LEGOs! There is now a LEGO recycling program called the LEGO replay program. All those well used LEGO bricks can have a new life which is good because LEGOs are the one toy I am willing to spend full-price because they last forever and now donated LEGOs will have a second life.

LEGO recycling program - what to do with used LEGOs bricks - Kids Activities Blog - LEGO minifigure recycling figuring with recycling truck and recycling bin
Take advantage of the LEGO recycling program! Now you know what to do with all those used LEGOs.

Can You Recycle Old LEGOs?

LEGO actually sells 75 million products a year. That means there are a lot of LEGOS floating around out there. And it’s no wonder with as many fun kids activities you can do with Legos. Plus, they also make great stem activities as well.

Since there are so many bricks out there and since they last so long LEGO has now introduced a LEGO recycling program where you can get rid of unwanted bricks for free! If your kids’ LEGO brick collection has grown like mine has, you have likely wondered what to do with unwanted LEGOs.

There are 75 millions LEGOS sold each year and many of them should be recycled to benefit people and the world.  Pictured are many variations of LEGOs in a pile.
75 million LEGO sets are sold each year. Many can be recycled to benefit educational programs or broken down and reused.

Where to Donate Old LEGOs

Yes, you may think of donating or selling old LEGO’s instead of recycling but for some, recycling unwanted bricks can be the better alternative to dumping the bricks into the trash. LEGO bricks are generally accepted by any charity that accepts in-working-order toys. But if you don’t, then check out the brick recycling…

LEGO Replay Program

If you are looking to recycle, LEGO has a goal of switching to 100% sustainable materials in the next decade and with your help, they can do that. That is why they started the LEGO recycling program.

LEGOS are fun for so many different activities, but when we are done there is not reason for them to go to the dump when they can be recycled.  Shown is boy playing with LEGOs.
You can help LEGO switch to using 100% sustainable materials.

How to Recycle Unwanted LEGO Bricks

If you have unwanted LEGO bricks lying around (and hurting your feet) you can head over to the LEGO website to print a free mailing label.

Once printed, U.S. customers can box up unwanted LEGO bricks and ship them to the company for free. It is all part of the LEGO Replay! program.

The logo for Legos looking all great and glowy against a black backdrop
You can print out a free LEGO shipment label to make LEGO recycling easier.

What Happens to Recycled LEGOs?

The pieces will be cleaned, put in a box and given to Teach for America which is a nonprofit that will donate them to classrooms across the United States.

Some bricks will be also sent to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for its after-school programs.

Yay! That is the perfect solution for used LEGOs!

Everything is playing with legos that will eventually go into the lego recycling program.
These recycled LEGO bricks will be cleaned and go to Teach For America.

More About The LEGO Replay Program

According to the LEGO website:

LEGO Replay is our way of helping fans donate bricks to kids in need. We’re currently trying it out in the United States. Just go to www.givebackbox.com/LEGO, print out a shipping label, box up your bricks and get them to the post office. You can also visit one of our LEGO Stores to get a free shipping label or drop your donation off in person. The bricks you send will be sorted and cleaned before being donated to Teach for America or Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.

If you’re deciding what to do with LEGO® bricks when you don’t want to play with them anymore, we recommend passing them on to someone else or donating them to a local charity shop.

Bricks that don’t meet our high standards after being molded aren’t just thrown away. We can sometimes grind them down to make new pieces. Pieces that can’t be ground down and reused in molding help generate power in our facilities. When we make too many bricks of one kind, we donate them through our LEGO Foundation to charities all over the world!

LEGO bricks are cleaned - set of blue bricks pictured
Use LEGOs will be recycled into new products, ground down to create new bricks, or used for other purposes.

So, know that your LEGO bricks will serve a new, fun purpose. I think this is a great way to recycle LEGO bricks if you don’t know where else to take them!

Lego Is Taking It A Step Further With Their Recycling

LEGO recycling isn’t the only way the company is going green! They’ve recently started switching from plastic bags to paper bags in their box sets.

After kids began asking for the switch LEGO obliged. They’re hoping in the next 5 years that they will have completely switched over to paper bags to make its packaging sustainable.

This article contains affiliate links.

How do you dispose of old LEGOs?

  1. Donate bricks to a local school or community center. These places love getting donations like LEGO bricks to use in educational or recreational programs.
  2. Sell LEGOs online or at a garage sale. There are plenty of collectors out there who would be happy to buy your old bricks.
  3. Recycle LEGOs. LEGO bricks are made of ABS plastic, which can be recycled at facilities that accept plastic. Just check with your local recycling center to see if they take it and for instructions on how to recycle.
  4. Get creative and upcycle them! There are tons of ideas online for building cool projects with LEGO bricks, like lampshades, jewelry, and even furniture. Try making our LEGO bracelet, LEGO STEM scale, LEGO pocket case or follow these simple instructions how to build a LEGO table.
  5. Use the LEGO Replay program described in this article!

Can you put LEGO bricks in the recycling bin?

LEGO bricks can be recycled. They are made of a type of plastic called ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), which can be recycled at facilities that accept plastic. However, it’s important to note that not all recycling facilities accept ABS plastic, so it’s always a good idea to check with your local recycling center to see if they accept it and for instructions on how to recycle it. Your local recycling center will be able to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on recycling guidelines and regulations in your community.

Does LEGO have a buy back program?

LEGO does not have a formal buyback program for used LEGO bricks. However, there are several online marketplaces where you can sell your used LEGO bricks to collectors or other individuals who are interested in purchasing them. Some examples of these marketplaces include eBay, Etsy, and BrickLink. You could also try selling your LEGO bricks at a garage sale or through classified ads in your local newspaper or online. You can donate used LEGO bricks to the LEGO Replay Program described in this article.

Check out some of our favorite LEGO sets, available on Amazon!

Old Lego Replay- LEGO sets available on a white background- kids activities blog
Once you give your old LEGOs to the LEGO replay, you can check out some of our favorite LEGO sets.

More LEGO fun from Kids Activities Blog

What do you think about recycling old bricks through the LEGO Replay program? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!



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14 Comments

  1. Hi there,
    I have bins of lego’s that I would like to donate..just need to know where to bring them..I live in NJ and don’t want to pay shipping charges as we’re on a fixed budget..if you are interested let me know where to drop them off..Thanks..

  2. Hello, I am a teacher in a middle school and would like to sponsor a Lego Club for students who have shown interest in started one. Do you know where I can find donated legos to use for the Lego Club?

  3. Past 7 years I have worked with impoverished children of Oaxacan farm workers in Baja California, Mexico ( about 75 miles south of Tijuana border). Campesino’s make $12.00usd a DAY working in the fields so no ‘ disposable income’ for toys, etc; I am wondering if our group of gringo volunteers qualify for LEGO’s RePlay Program. Can you advise?

  4. Hi, my name is Cara and my grandsons have millions of Legos. We are keeping a huge amount in their room inside an old filing cabinet and have had another large amount we sorted through to donate. I told my oldest grandson about your program to reuse/recycle them and he got excited. Problem is we have a huge plastic tote of them to donate. How navy shipping labels can I print out? Please keep ne know as soon as you can. Thanks!

  5. Hello. I read that kids on the Autism spectrum really love creating with Legos. I’d like to donate ours to this cause. We live in San Diego, Ca – any advice as to how to do this?

  6. I have $1000 PLUS worth of legos and want to donate them to children in other countries.
    Can you tell me how to make this happen.

    1. Hi, Sonja! That is so kind! There is a link within the post (to the Lego website) where you can get more info about where to send them!

  7. You can also check with your local library! Our wonderful patrons brought in enough legos for us to start a lego club. A little here and a little there added up to enough legos for 3 branches.