Recycled LEGOS Will Be Used to Construct Wheelchair Ramps at the 2022 European Championships in Munich

Nashia Baker
·2 min read

LEGOS aren't just for kids or playtime. The versatile plastic bricks have been used to create everything from floral bouquets—which featured "a number of elements made from plant-based plastic, produced using sustainably sourced sugarcane," per a LEGO press release—to musical instruments, like pianos that had 3,662 pieces and 25 playable keys. Now, there's even more in store for these prized toy pieces. As reported by the Inside the Games, recycled LEGOS will serve as the building blocks for wheelchair ramps at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, Germany.

The upcoming event, which includes rowing, gymnastics, cycling, beach volleyball, and more, will feature athletes participating from across Europe. The LEGOS will appear in the wheelchair ramps at the championships and also in the inclines. While these features will not solely be made of LEGOS, the toys will be used to showcase the need to have better accessibility to facilities for those with disabilities.

Related: LEGO Is Phasing Out Single-Use Plastic Packaging—And It's All Because of Kids

colorful lego brick pile
colorful lego brick pile

EThamPhoto / Getty Images

The Count & Last Initiative began this month for next year's championships, and there are currently over 1,500 recycled LEGOS stocked up. The initiative aims to round up another 22,000 bricks before the end of September. To contribute for this goal, locals in Europe can share their own LEGOS at the European Championships Munich 2022 office or schedule a donation pickup for about two pounds or more of the pieces. Those outside of Europe can donate LEGOS by mailing them to this address: LOC European Championships Munich 2022, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 22, 80809 Munich, Germany.

Want to have a direct hand in setting up the wheelchair ramps? The public can join in on Sunday, October 10, at Olympiapark in Munich to help with the setup. The ramps will make their debut the same day that the tournament begins on August 11, 2022. If you're looking for ways to do some good with your leftover toy blocks right now, consider donating your family's leftover LEGOS for children in need by contributing to organizations that accept mismatched pieces, like Brick Recycler, the Giving Brick, and Brick-Dreams, or recycling them by packing them up in a box with a free shipping label from the givebackbox.com/lego to send to Give Back Box.