Sex Toy Vibrator

Your vibrator has been around for a few years, and it's (very) good for you, but unfortunately the battery is giving out its last buzz, signaling that it's time for your special friend to retire for good.

Now what?

In addition to getting a new vibrator (the fun part), there are a few things you need to do with the old vibrator. Now that you've read this article, you might be interested in finding the most environmentally friendly way to discard it.

You may have realized by Googling that this is not an easy process, but it's well worth your time and effort. The toy recycling industry can only grow when consumer demand cannot be ignored, and that growth starts with each of us.

What you can do:

Send your vibrator to the collection schedule.

Unfortunately, sex toy recycling programs are not a profitable business. In general, there are more works that oppose this action than support it, so it's hard to track down programs that aren't currently inactive or completely shut down. "The whole endeavor is inconvenient and expensive," said Jack Lamon, the founder of As Come As Your Are, "and no company with capitalist intentions would engage in sex toy recycling." All right, all right.

However, there is hope. If you live in the UK (or don't mind paying international shipping), you can join Amy's Rabbit Amnesty scheme. You can send them anything that is classified as WEEE(discarded electrical or electronic equipment) - that means your vibrator plus any other old electronics around you. Even better, for every gift they receive, it goes to the World Land Trust, a wildlife conservation organization!

It's a win-win like no other.

Contact your local e-waste center.

Computers, TVS, iPods, copiers, printers and any other electronics you come across can (and should) essentially spend their life cycles in e-waste centers that are specially equipped to deal with the potentially toxic and bulky materials they contain.

When it comes to electronic toys such as vibrators, the rules are less clear. Because they can be used in-house, sex toys are considered biohazardous, meaning that most standard e-recycling programs are not set up to deal with them. It is also difficult to disassemble and sort because many devices have both electronic and plastic components, meaning toys can end up in landfills because disposal at recycling centers is not clear enough.

Most of these centers' websites don't list sex toys on their list of accepted items, but you can't assume that means they won't. At the same time, it's easy to assume that the worst will happen if you show up with a vibrator in your hand only to be ridiculed and rejected.

To avoid any awkward face-to-face interactions with e-waste workers, it is often possible to find the email address of your local waste disposal center. Otherwise, they should all list a phone number on their website. If you're nervous about making the call, focus on solving the problem objectively. You can ask, "What if the vibrator breaks?" Say, "I want to know what to do with a silicone adult toy with a dead battery -- is it recyclable?"

Like the TSA at the airport, the people who work at these centers have probably seen it all, so they will most likely take your question seriously and with aplomb. If so, they'll be glad you asked instead of assuming!

Check with a sex-positive local retailer.

The people who work in the sex toy store don't just sell you vibrators. They may also have valuable inside knowledge on how best to face the end of your vibrator's life.

Especially because e-waste laws fluctuate on a city and state level, you're more likely to learn about little-known recycling programs or get better first-hand advice from people who work in the same field as you.

Most big cities have a variety of sex toy stores, from big names like Babeland to smaller boutiques, but you don't have to go there. You won't be judged on any of your questions anyway, but if you're particularly nervous about asking, calling (or emailing on social media) takes a lot of pressure off. You can even start by saying "This may be a strange question, but..." To really ease into it.

Pay attention to vibrator quality and maintenance.

By far the biggest environmental impact change in the sex toy industry has been the dramatic improvement in quality. Ten to 20 years ago, a vibrator might last three to six months. Today, you can usually expect a rechargeable vibrator to last between two and five years.

Owning a vibrator responsibly doesn't start when it's time to throw it away, it starts in the first place. Buying a well-known brand of vibrator with long battery life, high quality, and safe materials is one of the easiest ways to reduce your overall impact on the environment. To further extend the vibrator's life, you should also clean it regularly, store it properly (almost in your own bag or holder), and unplug it when fully charged.