How to set up a beach toy library

Picture this: towels spread across the sand, sunscreen slathered on, and little ones racing to the beach toy library to grab a bucket, spade, or mould for sandcastle masterpieces. At the end of the day, those same toys are returned, ready for the next family to borrow. It may sound like a dream, but beach toy libraries are real and popping up on beaches across Australia and beyond. The photo above was taken at Sawtell Beach, NSW. 

According to research from the Australian Toy Association and Sustainability Victoria, around 51% of new toys become waste within a year, with 26–27 million toys discarded annually and about 87,000 tonnes ending up in landfill. Because beach toys are often plastic and used seasonally, they can easily be treated as disposable, or worse, left behind as litter.

A communal beach toy library helps tackle this throwaway culture by giving toys a longer life and teaching kids the value of sharing and caring for their belongings. Here’s how to start a beach toy library in your community.

What’s a Beach Toy Library?

A beach toy library is a community collection where families can borrow and return beach toys. Think buckets, spades, moulds, boogie boards, snorkels and more. Instead of buying new, visitors can borrow what they need for the day. It’s like a Little Free Book Library, but for sandcastles and seaside fun.

They save money, reduce waste, and give toys a second (or third) life, keeping them out of landfill and out of the ocean.

How to start one

1. Pick your spot

Find a busy, family-friendly beach where people will actually use a beach toy library. Keep it somewhere visible but not in the way of beach access or pathways.

2. Design & signage

Your setup can be as simple or creative as you like. A timber box, bookshelf, or milk crate all work well. If you can, connect with a local Men’s Shed or Maker Space to help build something sturdy with drainage holes (because sand and water happen!).

Earlier this year, I shared a photo of a beach toy library in Batemans Bay, and so many of you sent examples from your own communities. Click through to see how they look.

Add a friendly sign so everyone knows how they work. Something simple like:

“Borrow a toy, enjoy your day, and return it when you’re done.”

If it's a particularly popular location include a note about donations and care, “no broken toys, please!”

3. Check permissions

Before you set anything up, have a quick chat with your local council. Most are very supportive of community-led sustainability projects and might even help promotion. When you pitch it, include a photo or sketch of what it will look like, including the signage and who will help look after it.

4. Collect toys

Ask for donations of old or outgrown beach toys. A post on your local Buy Nothing group, school newsletter, or surf club page usually brings in plenty. Give everything a quick clean and sort before stocking your library.

5. Keep it tidy & get the community involved

Pop by every few weeks to tidy up, check for broken toys, and make sure everything’s safe. Share your intention for the beach toy library to a local community group, whether that's on Facebook or another space, and ask if anyone would like to help with its upkeep. There are often folk who take daily walks along beaches who would be perfect candidates to check in on the space. 

Surf Beach, Batemans Bay NSW

Tips for success

Start small: One box is enough to get started—you can always grow from there.

Use what you have: Upcycled crates, secondhand toys, and hand-painted signs add charm.

Share the story: Post updates on community pages or social media to keep people inspired and involved.

Setting up a beach toy library is a small, joyful act that ripples outward. It keeps plastic out of landfill (and the ocean), builds community connection, and reminds us that not everything needs to be bought new.

It’s a lovely example of the reuse revolution in action, turning something as simple as a bucket and spade into a shared resource for everyone to enjoy.