Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Our Nationwide Pokemon Toy Collection Adventure

The Ultimate Pokemon Toy Hunt Begins

What started as a standard toy collection initiative has evolved into something truly extraordinary. Across England and Wales, our network of donation points has unwittingly sparked a friendly competition that’s bringing communities together through a shared love of Pokemon.

Why Pokemon Toys Matter

Pokémon remains one of the most beloved franchises in the UK, with approximately:

• 3.5 million children aged 6-14 actively collecting Pokemon toys
• Over 900 different Pokemon characters created since the franchise began
• 77% of UK adults recognising Pikachu, making it one of the most identifiable characters globally
• £4.2 billion worth of Pokemon merchandise sold annually in the UK market

Yet, many of these cherished toys eventually lose their place in children’s toy boxes, often destined for landfill where they can take up to 450 years to decompose.

Our Pokemon Collection Challenge

We’ve embarked on an exciting mission across England and Wales: to collect as many different Pokemon toy characters as possible through our donation network. So far, our collection includes:

• Several Pikachu variants
• Multiple Squirtle figures
• A growing army of Charmanders
• Rare Eevee collectibles
• Even some sizeable Snorlax plushies

Each donation not only diverts waste from landfill but contributes to our nationwide Pokemon collection challenge.

Regional Competition: Which Area Will Catch the Most?

Our collection points across England and Wales have embraced the challenge with remarkable enthusiasm. Currently, the HWRC in Wigan holds the coveted top position with the most diverse Pokémon collection.

The friendly rivalry has sparked increased donation rates across all regions, with notable contributions coming from:

• Staffordshire (particularly strong in water-type Pokemon)
• Wigan (excelling in fire-type characters)
• Cardiff (leading in rare evolutionary forms)
• Wiltshire (dominating the plush toy category)

Environmental Impact: Beyond the Fun

While the Pokemon collection challenge adds an element of fun, the environmental impact remains significant:

• Plastic toys account for approximately 90% of the toys in UK landfills
• The average UK child owns over 200 toys but regularly plays with just 12
• Pokemon figures are predominantly made of non-biodegradable plastics
• By redirecting these toys to new homes, we’re preventing approximately 2.3 tonnes of plastic waste annually

The Social Dimension: Creating Community Connections

This initiative has created unexpected social benefits:

• Parents and children donating together, discussing sustainability
• Workplace teams organising internal Pokemon collection drives
• Cross-generational conversations about favourite Pokemon characters
• Community bonding over shared childhood nostalgia

How You Can Join the Pokemon Challenge

Getting involved is simple:

• Donate your pre-loved Pokemon toys at any of our collection points or any unwanted toys
• Start a collection drive in your workplace or community
• Challenge neighbouring towns or organisations to beat your collection
• Share your donations on social media with our hashtag #GottaReuseEmAll

What Happens to the Donated Pokemon?

All Pokemon toys collected undergo careful sorting before being exported to developing countries.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Pokemon Mission

As this initiative continues to grow, we’re setting ambitious targets:

• Collecting representatives of all original 151 Pokemon by year-end
• Expanding collection points to 50 additional locations – with 25 new locations coming in May.
• Creating a travelling exhibition of the most unusual Pokemon finds
• Developing educational materials about sustainable toy consumption

Join Our Quest to Catch ‘Em All

Whether you’re a lifelong Pokemon trainer or simply have some forgotten figures gathering dust, your donations make a genuine difference. The environmental impact is real, the community spirit is infectious, and somewhere, a child is waiting to continue these toys’ adventures.

Will your area be the one to dethrone Wigan HMRC from the top spot? There’s only one way to find out – it’s time to dig out those Pokemon toys and help us catch ’em all!

Together, we’re turning forgotten toys into community gold while protecting our planet – now that’s a challenge worth accepting!

How to donate old toys?

Deliver them to one of our local toy banks located around England and Wales; find your nearest one here. Alternatively, donate them to us directly via our ‘Sorted’ service here.