My kids are crazy for Hasbro's Play-doh, but my problem with it has always been that the containers don't appear to be recyclable. I was thinking about this the other day and decided to write to Hasbro about it. I've pasted my conversation with them below.
While I'm relieved to find out they are, in fact, recyclable, I am frustrated by their apparent resistance to mark them as such.
Of course, this could all be avoided by simply making our own play-doh. There are ton of recipes online.
The bolding is my own.
ME: 03/15/2010 02:29 PM I am writing to request that you please use recyclable packaging for your Play-doh products. It kills me every time we have to toss one of those little jars into the trash rather than the recycle bin. And we buy a lot of Play-doh. We recently received a gift of the animal activity bucket and I was dismayed to find that even that bucket was non-recyclable. Having just read the President & CEO's message on the website about social responsibility, it's hard to take it seriously when you don't use recyclable (and recycled!) plastic for what is probably your most popular item. I hope someone will read this who will actually take this into consideration. I'm going to start looking for a different brand of dough that uses recyclable packaging. Thank you for your time.
HASBRO: 03/18/2010 03:34 PM Hi Kira, Thank you for contacting Hasbro, Inc. We are pleased to be able to respond. In response to your inquiry, our Play-Doh cans can be recycled, however, there are no numbers on the cans. You must recycle according to your area. We want to assure you that we are dedicated to maintaining quality products and service. We hope you and your family will continue to enjoy our products for many years to come. Again, thank you for contacting us.
ME: 03/18/2010 04:30 PM Traditionally, if there's no number on the bottom of a plastic container, it is considered un-recyclable. I urge you, then, to put the number on there. Additionally, recycling must be sorted for pick up. If there's no number, how do you sort it? Can you tell me what number plastic it is? Thank you.
HASBRO: 03/19/2010 09:29 AM Hi Kira, Thank you for your response. We have not experienced any problems with consumers recycling our Play-Doh cans. As Play-Doh is loved by consumers around the world and all the manufacturing comes from the same place, and because there are different recycling requirements by country, it would be next to impossible to control the markings without causing confusion. Our Play-Doh cans use 3 different kinds of resin. The can itself is PP (Polypropolene), or number 5, and the lids are EITHER a blend of LDPE (Low density Polyethylene), which is #4, and HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), which is #2, OR just HDPE (2). We appreciate having the opportunity to assist you.
ME: 03/19/2010 12:56 PM Thanks again for your response. I have to disagree with you, however, as the now-classic recycling symbol with the three chasing arrows is universal - meaning international. I understand not using the numbers, but there's no reason not to use the symbol. A quick survey of my friends confirmed my belief that when there is no recycling symbol on a plastic container, it is considered non-recyclable and ends up in a landfill. So, I think Hasbro is making a big & incorrect assumption about its consumers - particularly since so many are resistant to going out of their way to recycle. They aren't going to research whether a container is recyclable. They need to see the symbol. Maybe that's why Hasbro knows of no problems with their consumers recycling their unmarked containers. I sincerely hope Hasbro will reconsider their practice of not marking recyclable containers as such. Is there someone higher up I should try to contact about this or will you pass it on? And thank you for letting me know the resin numbers - I will post them on my blog so that others will also know to recycle their Play-doh containers.
HASBRO: 03/19/2010 04:23 PM Hi Kira, Thank you for your email. Please be assured we have forwarded your comments to our management team so that they are also aware of your views. We want to assure you that we are dedicated to maintaining quality products and service. We hope you and your family will continue to enjoy our products for many years to come. Again, thank you for contacting us, and for your comments.
hey! thanks for checking on this for us! recycle we shall!
ReplyDeleteSo helpful, thanks Kira! Appreciate you taking the time to contact them - am glad I hadn't yet thrown out the big pile of containers I've been hoarding until I could contact the manufacturer myself!
ReplyDeleteHi, Thanks for your post. I just contacted them asking them the same thing and they told me it was under their FAQs. I still couldn't find it. It's totally unexcusable.
ReplyDeleteGreen Mom from St. Paul
Thank you for doing all of the 'leg work' for us who can't stand to throw all those little yellow plastic containers in the trash. The problem with even the #5 recycling is that so many places don't take #5. If Hasbro really wants to be socially responsible, they would make their containers out of #1 and #2. I love to make play clay too! It's Science in action!
ReplyDeleteSuzie, I completely agree. I discovered that Whole Foods accepts #5 as well as other restricted numbers, so I've been saving them up to take there. The bins are right by the entrance at the Providence, RI store.
ReplyDeleteI found your comments and conversation with Hasbro to be extremely helpful. I will toss the containers into my recycling, but I do wonder what is done with them when it is necessary to sort the types of plastics and numbers used. Hasbro is acting dispicably and their nice words do not change that behavior. Actions are what counts!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I almost threw them out because they weren't marked, but decided to check online first.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Your research into this is having a big impact, because every mom who searches on "are play doh containers recyclable" goes right to your post. I really enjoyed reading your blog. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeletewww.windbornelife.blogspot.com
agree with all the comments. just searched for "are play doh containers recyclable" and came to your post. i usually throw out items with no recycle symbol as the people who sort the recyclables have no way of knowing. they may be recyclable, but even if i put them in the bin, the recycle people will probably just throw them out. what the company is saying makes no sense. they don't label because they don't want to cause confusion? ridiculous. thanks for taking initiative. i will email them as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the diligent work! It is annoying when the higher ups are not really understanding the impact of the volume of their containers ending up in landfills for such a silly thing as avoiding placing the generic universal symbol on their products. Is it more green to let the kids play with mud, "Shout Out" their clothes, and recycle that container? I may do that instead.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do with the playdoh itself? Do you just throw it out? Or is it recyclable also?
ReplyDeleteAnother viewer here looking to recycle the containers. Really sad there isn't any numbers. Not sure how my recycling company will feel about that. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHasbro Play Doh cans now have the recycle logo and number on the bottom of all the cans. They have also now changed the design of the can so the label is printed on the can instead of using paper. This saves tons of paper every year. Also the cans can now stack inside each other where they couldn't before. It is because of people like you that people are looking into greener practices.
ReplyDeleteYour awesome ~ company should at least stamp recycle on cans
ReplyDeleteDoes playdoh compound go into the compose? I feel bad to throw the compound into the garbage. tx.
ReplyDelete