Toys for Tigers: DCW and Dartmoor Zoo give olive barrels a wild new purpose

Dartmoor Zoo’s resident tiger, Dragan, is set for barrels of fun thanks to an imaginative new initiative between the zoo, Devon Contract Waste (DCW), and South West artisan food producer, Olives Et Al.

Through DCW’s circular economy partnership with Dartmoor Zoo, disused plastic olive barrels that would normally be chipped down or recycled into everyday items have been diverted for a much wilder second life — as enrichment toys for Dragan.

Dartmoor Zoo’s Maintenance Manager Stuart Franklin commented: “When you work closely with endangered species, you become keenly aware of how negatively man’s economic activities can impact on every ecosystem. It is hugely important to get multiple uses out of every resource, and this plays a fundamental role in our green initiatives on site. This was the driving factor behind implementing our partnership with DCW and the Dartmoor Zoo team are very excited about what the recycling future holds!” 

For Dragan, enrichment items like the barrels provide stimulation, encourage natural behaviours, and offer hours of play — while giving zoo visitors the chance to watch him pounce, roll, and wrestle with his new toys.

Giles from Olives Et Al added:
“We’re an artisan food producer based in Dorset, and we’re delighted to see our old olive barrels given a new lease of life. Normally, they’d go into normal recycling streams, maybe chipped down for groundworks or turned into a bench. But to recycle them by turning them into playthings for a tiger? That’s much more fun — and we can’t wait to see how Dragan enjoys them.”

Grant Scott, General Manager at DCW, said:
“When we first started our circular economy journey with Dartmoor Zoo, we wanted to go beyond the usual ask and find ways to make a real difference. ‘Toys for Tigers’ is a first for us — but it’s exactly the kind of project that shows how circular thinking can benefit communities, organisations, and even animals.”

The ‘Toys for Tigers’ initiative is part of a wider partnership between DCW and Dartmoor Zoo, built on shared values of sustainability, creativity, and protecting the environment. By keeping materials in use for longer, the collaboration reduces waste, supports animal welfare, and brings the circular economy to life in an exciting, memorable way.

Click here to see a video of Dragan playing with his new toy, the disused olive barrel.

For more information about DCW’s circular economy initiatives, visit www.dcw.co.uk or call 01392 361300 (Exeter) or 01752 850800 (Plymouth).