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Kids all over the U.S. just love watching the garbage truck doing the rounds each week. They’re fascinated by:
- the garbage collectors hopping off the back of the truck
- how the bins are attached and then hoisted into the air so the contents can be dumped inside the truck
- what happens to the trash once it’s inside.
A toy garbage truck will give children a wonderful opportunity to learn all about trash collection: what happens to the trash, how to keep the environment clean, the importance of recycling and so much more.
That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of the best toy trash trucks available. So dive in and have a look!
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A Word from a Psychologist
Written By: Psychologist Natasha Tanic
- Toy garbage trucks teach about recycling and environment
The Importance of Open-Ended Play
Toy garbage trucks are a great open-ended toy that promotes spontaneity, independence, and creativity.
Open-ended play doesn’t follow defined rules and has no specific outcomes your child needs to achieve, therefore providing opportunities to enjoy play creatively and spontaneously.
Also, by playing alone with his favorite toy garbage truck, your child gains independence and learns about the importance of recycling and keeping the environment clean.
Toy garbage trucks are also a great toy to share with friends, teaching your child cooperation, patience, empathy, and other critical social-emotional skills.
Best Garbage Truck Toys For Kids
Paw Patrol – Rocky’s Recycling Truck
If your child is a big fan of the children’s cartoon show Paw Patrol, then they are going to fall head over heels in love with this Paw Patrol – Rocky’s Recycling Truck designed for children age 3 and over!
Rocky’s Recycling Truck has:
- a forklift that Rocky can use to lift objects
- storage space at the back of the truck for placing the garbage
- the door at the back, so that your child can empty the recycling materials when they reach their ‘destination’
- no need for batteries and no noisy sounds.
Parents are also very impressed with the quality of this toy, the size and how well it lasts and holds up to toddler play.
Why We Recommend The Paw Patrol – Rocky’s Recycling Truck
- Young Paw Patrol fans just love this eye-catching interactive toy because of the moving parts!
- Perfect indoor and outdoor toy garbage truck for your child.
- Ideal toy for independent play.
Green Toys Recycling Truck
Green Toys Recycling Truck is truly an eco-friendly toy truck as it has no metal axles, no toxic paints and is completely dishwasher safe to keep it in top condition.
Made from 100% recycled milk jugs, it is Phthalate and BPA FREE and made in the USA.
Your child will get the:
- truck itself which is 12 x 6 x 7
- cardboard cut outs of materials (newspapers, a plastic bottle and an aluminum can), these can put into the correct recycling chutes
- truck’s back doors open so your child can empty their load and tilt back the movable bed.
Why We Recommend The Green Toys Recycling Truck
- Can be used to teach all about recycling and why it’s important.
- Encourages playing outdoors as well as indoors.
- High quality safe toy with no metal axles and made from recycled milk jugs.
Big-Daddy Medium Duty Friction Powered Garbage Truck
The Big-Daddy Medium Duty Friction Powered Garbage Truck is one of the coolest trash trucks toys!
This eye-catching garbage truck:
- is friction powered: when children push it, they will hear an engine sound to make it feel more realistic
- has a button on the side of the truck to open up the back: put on the bits and pieces of ‘garbage’ to transport to the dump!
- the side mirrors can be turned inwards and outwards and the tires look very realistic.
Perfect for kids age 3 and up, a few parents shared that they filled the back of the truck with candies and treats for their child’s birthday as an added surprise!
Why We Recommend The Big-Daddy Medium Duty Friction Powered Garbage Truck
- Vibrant colored garbage truck’s back can be filled with all kinds of stuff!
- Friction motor powered with motor sound which adds more fun .
- Well made, durable and should stand up well to rough and tumble play.
PLAYMOBIL Green Recycling Truck (5679)
If you’re looking for a great interactive garbage truck, then this PLAYMOBIL Green Recycling Truck might be the perfect gift idea.
This is a 27 piece playset:
- recycling truck
- 2 x bendable figures. One can act as carbage collector and the other as truck driver.
- 1 x rubbish bin
- lots of accessories to fill up the bin for more realistic play
The recommended age for this garbage truck is 4 years and up and many parents shared that their child is obsessed with this toy garbage truck playset and absolutely loves it!
Why We Recommend The PLAYMOBIL Green Recycling Truck (5679)
- Truck has moving parts and action figures are bendable.
- Solid construction and high quality as all the parts are well made and durable.
- Awesome toy for firing up your child’s imagination as they creative their own adventures with this playset.
Dickie Toys Light and Sound Garbage Truck
If your child prefers to play with toys that have lights and sound effects then they will adore getting this Dickie Toys Light and Sound Garbage Truck!
This orange garbage truck is quite realistic and has:
- moving fork with a dustbin
- tipping trailer
- the light and sound
Suitable for children age 3 and above.
Why We Recommend The Dickie Toys Light and Sound Garbage Truck
- Will keep your child amused, engaged and entertained for long periods of time.
- Simple to operate making it easy for young children to play with.
- Runs well on all kinds of surfaces making it quite versatile toy.
Bruder Toys Mack Granite Garbage Truck (Ruby Red Green)
Bruder Toys are renowed for their exceptional quality and this Bruder Toys Mack Granite Garbage Truck in ruby red green proves it too!
Your child will get:
- 27″ x 6.5″ x 9.5″ truck
- 2 refuse cans
- the handle of the garbage bins snap into slots at the back of the truck
- the lids of the bins will open as they’re tilted
- truck has a real working garbage press
- the engine hood can also be opened
- the mirrors can be folded in and out
- the tires have real thread
Why We Recommend The Bruder Toys Mack Gr
- Lots of moving parts to keep the player engaged and exploring all the truck can do.
- Made to a very high standard which parents love
- Real thread on tyres make it suitable for all kinds of terrains for child to play on.
4 Best Toy Garbage Truck Accessories Your Kids Will Love!
To expand child’s epic adventures even more while driving garbage truck , you might want to to include some additional accessories.
Bruder Garbage Can Set – 3 Small & 1 Large
If you would like to help a child expand their imaginary garbage collection round, then you should have a look at Bruder Garbage Can Set!
The child will get:
- 1 large dumpster in grey, measures 3.1″
- 3 smaller trash cans in yellow, green and blue, measure 1.4″
- all are compatible with Bruder Garbage and Recycling trucks.
One parent shared that her child used the accessories in conjunction with other toys to create their very own neighborhood so they could drive their garbage trucks to collect the trash!
Why We Recommend The Bruder Garbage Can Set – 3 Small & 1 Large
- You can use the different color trash cans to help differentiate between the types of items placed in them.
- Solidly made so should last well.
- Great gift idea for any child who already has their own toy garbage truck.
Mini Curbside Garbage Truck’s Trash Cans
Have a look at these cute colorful 1.75″ x 2.36″ x 2.5″ Mini Curbside Garbage Truck’s Trash Cans!
The symbols on cans:
- red has the recycling
- green one has the Keep City Tidy
- yellow has the Leaves recycling
These are great cans to use for explaining about different types and why some items need to get separated out and placed in a different color bin.
Why We Recommend The Mini Curbside Garbage Truck’s Trash Cans
- Work well with Bruder and Wolvol Garbage Trucks.
- Kids find cans easy to open and fill with.
- Helps your child expand their creative mind and storytelling.
Bruder Man with Light Skin & Blue Jeans Toy Figure
No toy trash truck playtime would be complete without an action figure to move the trash cans and load them onto the garbage truck. Bendable and little over 4″ tall Bruder Man with Light Skin & Blue Jeans Toy Figure is a great addition!
Made from high quality ABS plastic, he is suitable for both outdoor and indoor play and will hold up well to rough play.
Why We Recommend The Bruder Man with Light Skin & Blue Jeans Toy Figure
- Kids love this action figure because they can bend his arms, legs and body and fit him inside the garbage truck!
- Makes for more realistic playtime for your child.
- Ideal size for small hands to play with and manipulate.
Bruder Man with Dark Skin & Dark Blue Jeans Toy Figure
Measuring a little over 4″ tall Bruder Man with Dark Skin & Dark Blue Jeans Toy Figure can be the driver or the garbage collector to stands on the back of the truck and jumps on and off to empty the trash cans!
Bruder Man action figure has moveable hands, head and limbs and his hands can grasp different items and hold onto any Bruder Garbage Truck and other vehicles.
The three dimensional Bruder Man action figure toy is made from top quality ABS plastic.
Why We Recommend The Bruder Man with Dark Skin & Dark Blue Jeans Toy Figure
- Allows children to be creative.
- Super add to Bruder Garbage and Recycling trucks and works well with other trucks too
- Can help the child to improve motor skills.
Battat Toy Garbage Truck
Eye-catching lime green or dark green Battat Toy Garbage Truck is sure to fire up children’s imagination!
The truck has:
- measures approximately 13.5″ long x 7″ tall x 5″-6″
- drive figure who can be moved by opening the cab of the truck
- 2 removable bins
- wheels are soft and rubbery
- the hatch at the back of the truck can be opened
Suitable for kids age 18 months and upwards.
Why We Recommend The Battat Toy Garbage Truck
- Truck + driver combination.
- Great toy for teaching kids about picking up trash and keeping areas clean.
- Wheels are soft, so they shouldn’t scratch the floors.
Melissa & Doug Garbage Truck Wooden Vehicle Toy
If you prefer to buy wooden toys then the Melissa and Doug Garbage Truck Wooden Toy with a recycle sign is perfect for kids age 3 and up:
- bin attached to the truck has also different trash symbols and when child raises the lift and tilts the bin, the piece of wood will fall out into the back of the truck
- wheels roll easily and the entire truck is very durable
Melissa and Doug are known for their quality toys and this garbage truck made from wood doesn’t disappoint.
Why We Recommend The Melissa & Wooden Garbage Truck
- Playing with the lift, bin and trash helps to improve child’s fine motor skills and dexterity.
- Environmentally friendly as it’s made from wood.
- Can be used to discuss topics: recycling and disposing of trash.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Choose Age-Appropriate Toy Garbage Trucks
A large, battery-operated toy garbage truck with lights and sounds can be an excellent gift toy for babies and younger toddlers. Also, such toy garbage trucks (scholastic.com) typically have many moving parts that keep kids engaged and boost their development.
For older toddlers and preschoolers, recycling toy garbage trucks with figurines and those with different trash symbols help children learn about the process and the importance of recycling.
Also, such toy garbage trucks often come with various color trash cans, assisting children in sorting the different types of garbage.
Do Kids Love Playing with Wooden Toy Garbage Trucks?
Young kids learn by using their senses.
So, most children enjoy exploring toys made of various textures and materials.
Wooden toy garbage trucks are perfect for children age 3 and up, helping them learn about recycling, improving their fine motor and dexterity, and more.
Toy garbage trucks can teach kids the importance of protecting our planet.
