The Great Toy Drive is back from November 1 through 30 with a massive network of 5,000 drop-off locations.
As the holiday season approaches, Ecomaison and its partners are mobilizing across the country for the 2nd edition of “La Grande Collecte Solidaire des Jouets.” Because too many toys are still thrown away when they could be given a second life, this major national event is deploying an exceptional network of 5,000 collection sites throughout France to encourage donations and reuse, with the goal of ensuring a Christmas of solidarity for everyone.
From the Closet to a Charitable Donation: Unlocking the Potential of Unused Toys
In French households, toys are stored for an average of 5 years¹before being taken out of the closets. Whether due to a lack of time to deal with them (26%) or hesitation to part with an item that still works perfectly (49%), millions of toys are reportedly gathering dust in closets.
However, when it comes to sorting household waste, the “throw-it-away” mindset persists: 27% of French people continue to throw their games and toys in the trash ( either regular household waste or the yellow bin)², most often simply because they are unsure about the sorting guidelines or unaware of nearby collection points.
The goal of this major national campaign is to remove these barriers by becoming an integral part of families’ schedules. Since 61% of toy donations occur in the fall and winter³—mainly in anticipation of Christmas— this initiative helps educate people about sorting practices and instills the habit of charitable giving as a core part of family routines, both before the holidays and throughout the year.
¹ ² ³ Ecomaison / Crédoc (2026) on Practices for Decommissioning and End-of-Life Management of Games and Toys.
A massive operation: 5,000 collection points have been set up—twice as many as in 2025!
To make it easier for people to take the eco-friendly step of “donating toys” and to bring collection points closer to where people go about their daily lives, Ecomaison and its partners have doubled the number of drop-off locations compared to the previous event:
- 1,500 stores (toy stores, supermarkets, garden centers, furniture stores);
- 1,244 post offices (accept only non-electric, non-electronic toys);
- 1,400 municipal sites deployed in partnership with 120 local governments and in collaboration with the eco-organization ecosystem; such as city halls, libraries, schools, etc.
- 850 organizations active in the field of reuse.
What toys should I bring back?
We accept all toys at our drop-off locations—whether in good condition, damaged, or incomplete—including: all indoor toys (dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, building sets), board games, puzzles, outdoor toys ( balance bikes, beach toys), electric or electronic toys (battery-operated or plug-in), as well as toys included as gifts with children’s meals or magazines.
To find drop-off locations and collection dates with just one click: jedonnemesjouets.fr.
Solidarity-Based Reuse and Recycling: The Partnership Between Two Environmental Organizations
To ensure that no toy is left behind, Ecomaison and ecosystem—the two eco-organizations responsible for the reuse and recycling of games and toys—are joining forces to form a united front. Thanks to this collaboration, all products collected in November—whether electric or not—will be processed and distributed to 700 partner organizations to give them a second life:
- Priority on Reuse: As essential links in the supply chain, reuse organizations are the beating heart of this large-scale collection effort. In their community-based workshops—which create jobs for people re-entering the workforce—the teams carry out meticulous work sorting, cleaning, and also repairing and completing damaged or incomplete toys. This valuable expertise makes it possible each year to return 2 out of every 3 toys to the community-based distribution network, directly benefiting consumers.
- A complementary and streamlined recycling process: For games and toys that are too damaged or beyond repair, recycling takes over to incorporate the materials from the toys into new products or convert them into energy. Ecomaison handles non-electrical toys, whileecosystem handles the processing of electrical and electronic products.
Beyond Christmas: A Toys and Games Industry That’s Active All Year Round
“The Great Toy Drive” aims to boost donations during the holiday season, but the industry’s efforts are part of a long-term initiative. It is funded to the tune of 36 million euros annually by committed manufacturers and retailers.
In 2025, 40,000 metric tons—or 120 million games and toys—were processed. While the top priority is given to social reuse through the network of Social and Solidarity Economy organizations, Ecomaison also relies on 330 sorting and recycling centers to transform recycled toys into new resources.