Trading plastic waste for toys: How an eco-friendly event in Santo Domingo brought joy to kids - Video
In celebration of Three Kings Day—the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus—Santo Domingo held its fifth annual “Plastics for Toys” event, encouraging the public to exchange recyclable plastic bottles for toys.
The initiative, which took place on Sunday, January 5, at the National District City Hall, attracted hundreds of families in the Dominican capital who traded in plastic waste for bicycles, skateboards, and dolls. Children received their toys after their families turned in large bags of plastic bottles.
As a school teacher, Maria Cordero described the event as a meaningful way to combine environmental conservation with community support.
“It is a good measure to collect bottles, recycle, and give toys to children because that way joy comes to homes with parents who do not have resources,” she said while waiting in line with her three children.
Pamela Zoriano, a gas station worker, emphasised the environmental benefits of the programme. “It is greatly appreciated because when it rains heavily, the drains get clogged, and the area floods. By preventing this contamination, it truly makes a difference and is something that is genuinely valued,” she explained.
According to Mayor Carolina Mejia, the programme ensures that collected plastics are repurposed through collaborations with foundations and institutions.
“Year after year, these plastics are handled by foundations that work on the disposal and conversion of plastic materials, giving them a new life cycle. On one hand, they are sent to some foundations, while other institutions use them to create various types of furniture for parks,” Mejia stated.
Families participating in the programme were required to bring the bottles in weighed bags, with 500 bottles exchanged for a bicycle and 300 bottles for a skateboard, as reported by the AFP.
Since its inception, the “Plastics for Toys” programme has collected over 14 million plastic bottles, establishing itself as the largest environmental awareness initiative in the Dominican Republic.
