In a world where environmental issues are always top-of-mind (if just as a topic of derision), even fapping isn’t exempt — at least once that post-nut clarity hits and/or you find yourself looking to replace one of your very plastic (or glass) sex toys. How long does it take for them to degrade in the landfill if you throw them in the trash? Can they be recycled? Or can you just, um, hand them off to a friend?

On the latter, hand-me-down count, Lisa Finn, a sex educator at Babeland, says, “The safety is almost completely dependent on the material, and how well it’s been cared for. Non-porous materials like silicone, glass (like borosilicate or Pyrex) and metals (like stainless steel) are extremely easy to disinfect. Silicone toys that don’t have a motor — like solid silicone dildos or butt plugs — can actually be boiled to disinfect. And glass or metal toys can be cleaned with a diluted alcohol solution and then rinsed clean.”

It’s best, though, if you don’t go thrifting for porous toys (think elastomer, leather and PVC), because bacteria can hide beneath their surface, so they’re not as easy to clean. “Those are best kept to one person or fluid-bonded partners,” Finn says, “and should be retired if they ever begin to show discoloration or begin to deteriorate.”

Now, don’t think you can just waltz into your neighborhood Buffalo Exchange and shop for a dildo. Chances are most second-hand retailers won’t carry sex toys for hygienic reasons. That said, while Finn would discourage you from trying to purchase pre-loved sex toys from obscure online sellers, the internet is a vast place, and it will most likely have what you’re looking for.

“Sites with kinky reputations like Reddit, or even certain ‘After Dark’ Facebook Marketplace groups may have used toys,” says Finn. “Just, buy with discretion — there’s no real way to vet these sellers or the products. And to be extra safe, use gloves when you open the package.” (Also, obviously fully clean your toy when you receive it.)

What, though, if you’re on the donor side of the equation and you don’t necessarily want to share them with someone else — where and how can you recycle your sex toys?

Much like any other piece of recyclable garbage, it depends on where you live. Some e-waste facilities may take some components of them (like, say, the motor or the charger), but others won’t accept them at all, so check your local e-waste facility website for more info. FWIW: A quick Reddit search will direct you to this website, which allegedly offers $10 in credit for future purchases per donated sex toy.

Ok legit question - what do we do with sex toys we bought and didn't use?
byu/shei350 inZeroWaste

Of course, like Finn, you could also DIY your sex toy for another use completely that never involves being buried inside of an orifice again. “I once made a coat hanger from spray-painted butt plugs,” she says. “And I have a glass dildo that proudly sits on my bookshelf solely as a sculptural piece.”