Welcome to the big vibe awakening—aka realising your sex toy can’t last forever and the time has come to throw it out *sobs*. So, how do you recycle a vibrator or sex toy? Girls Get Off has all the answers.
She’s been your bedroom bestie for a good few years, her buzzes keeping you warm at night and her toe-tingling abilities more reliable than Santa Claus. But when you went to turn her on today, expecting her soothing vibrations in your hand, you instead got radio silence.
You’ve tried everything: charging her, whispering sweet nothings, charging her again, but alas, nothing could be done to save your sweet, sweet vibe.
We’re sorry for your loss, queen. Here’s how to give your toy the send-off she deserves:
How to Dispose of Dildos, Butt Plugs, and Rubber/Jelly Toys:
While there are plenty of items that can go to your local Salvation Army store, a sex toy isn’t the most conventional—even if you clean it. While you can try to donate it, your dildos, butt plugs, and rubber or jelly toys are safe to dispose of in your everyday rubbish.
How to Dispose of Vibrators:
Most vibrators are made from plastic or silicone and include electronics, meaning they are considered e-waste. While some materials can be recycled, they can’t be disposed of alongside your empty milk and yoghurt cartons.
To dispose of your vibrator, you can visit your local council or waste management company and drop it off at an e-waste recycling facility.
Another option is to use the sex toy e-waste recycling programs run by sex toy companies.
How to Dispose of Glass Toys:
Glass toys are great for many bedroom antics like temperature play and added weight. Their most common forms are dildos, yoni eggs, or butt plugs. While they are a much-loved product, their delicate material means they can become chipped or broken over time.
If it’s time to say goodbye to your glass toy, it can be delivered to your local disposal centre or sent to a sex toy recycling program. However, if it is made from borosilicate glass, it cannot be recycled and must be placed in your landfill rubbish bin or a sex toy recycling program.
How to Dispose of Metal Toys:
Metal sex toys are a fan favourite, not only for the high-quality stainless steel they are often made from but also for adding weight to your bedroom play and allowing you to dabble in temperature play. They can take many forms, including dildos, weighted butt plugs, cuffs, nipple clamps, and penis rings.
If you would like to dispose of your metal toy, some sex toy companies offer recycling programs, or you can drop it off at a local disposal centre.
How to Dispose of Lube:
It adds slip and slide to every rendezvous and is designed to make your night a few levels hotter than usual. But what happens when you’ve used all your lube up? Or if the lube you bought just isn’t your journey? Or if it’s been sitting in your bedside drawer for years, only to be discovered after its expiry date?
While most lube can be disposed of down the drain or in your rubbish bin, the container or bottle it comes in is a different story.
Thankfully, Terracycle offers sustainable recycling programs through major retailers like Mecca in Australia and New Zealand. Banish also offers a recycling program in Australia.
How to Replace Your Vibrator or Sex Toy:
Once the sad part is over, it’s full steam ahead to replacing your vibrator or sex toy—if you haven’t already.
Check out our five-star-worthy range on the Girls Get Off website.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY…..
Hiiii queens!! I’m Lillie Rohan, a Lifestyle and Entertainment journalist. I currently write for established publications such as NZ Herald, Metro.co.uk, The Mirror & of course, Girls Get Off. Along with all things pop culture, I love bringing you helpful info on all things relationship, sex and self pleasure, it’s a vibe! x