How To Recycle Inflatables, Paddling Pools & More!
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Wondering how to recycle inflatables, paddling pools, and more? Read on – I’ve got details of a great initiative for you!
Summer has officially come to a close in Scotland. All the schools have resumed, and the beaches are quiet. This is despite being filled with happy kids, fish and chips, ice cream cones, buckets and spades, and lilos and rubber rings just a few weeks previously.
If you have kids, or even if you don’t have kids, you may have amassed a collection of inflatables over the summer. From lilos to rubber rings, from paddling pools to inflatable dinghies, you may have some in your shed or garage or stuffed under the stairs.
What To Do With A Burst Inflatable or Paddling Pool?
The trouble is that these items are delicate and don’t always withstand one summer’s worth of use, or three seasons of storage. If your paddling pool or inflatable has a puncture that can’t be repaired or is intended for the bin, then don’t bin it. Did you know your unwanted inflatables and paddling pools can be recycled rather cleverly?
Indeed, the clever people at Inflatable Amensty run an inflatable recycling service. Here you can post them your inflatables or paddling pools that would have otherwise gone in the bin and they will work their magic. That magic being turning them into rather funky bags, like the one below that is made from recycled paddling pools.
Isn’t that such a clever way to recycle inflatables?
How To Recycle Inflatables & Paddling Pools
You can post your inflatable or paddling pool to Inflatable Amnesty. Use this page to buy a postage label based on the weight of your inflatables. Do note that it’s important to use the postage label. Inflatable Amnesty says any items posted without the postal label service will not reach its workshop.
Inflatable Amnesty is able to accept most inflatables, however, there are some items that it cannot accept. Firstly, Inflatable Amnesty only accepts inflatables showing the CE mark, either on the packaging or on the item itself.
Secondly, it is unable able to accept mouldy inflatables. If you’re not sure whether your paddling pool or inflatable is mouldy or dirty, then try and clean it yourself. If the marks don’t come off, then it’s mould, so these shouldn’t be posted to Inflatable Amnesty.
Airbeds can be recycled. However, if your broken inflatable airbed has a plug-in motor, please remove the motor before sending it.
Finally, it is unable to accept rubber footballs, wetsuits, space hoppers, yoga/exercise balls, paddling pools with rigid sides, hot tubs, swimming caps, shower curtains, birthing pools, rubber gloves, or helium or latex balloons.
Happy recycling!
Please note, I receive a HUGE volume of emails asking if I am still accepting inflatables and paddling pools for recycling. Please note, I am not connected to Inflatable Amnesty so please contact them directly with any queries.
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ps: if you liked this post, you might also enjoy this post on how to recycle bras.
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Hi, I cannot seem to purchase a label to send you arm bands and a paddling pool, please can you advise?
Many thanks
Hi Emma, I’m afraid it’s not me that collects the inflatables, I was just helping to spread the word about the work that Inflatable Amnesty do. You will need to contact Inflatable Amnesty directly.
PVC will be going away soon and has already happened to records which are being produced from PET+Polycarbonate so what about recycling family size paddling pools into dresses and keep them out of landfill, and can be comfortable to wear and you know what you can out for walks even it is raining and not worrying about getting wet, you might get a little bit wiffy but so what.
Why can’t the PVC be recycled into LPs that people can listen to on their Turntables at home.
It’s such a good idea David, but from what I understand PVC is quite difficult to recycle, unless, like the Inflatable Amnesty, you are cutting it up and sewing it into new pieces. Recycling it in other ways – such as melting it down to make records – releases toxic chloride chemicals which is difficult to do safely, so most recyclers sadly won’t touch it.
Can’t they not use a compatible solvent to reduce the inflatables into a paste that could be mixed with carbon then turned into a puck that can be put into the press between the two pressing plates to be turned into an LP.
Oh, I’m not sure!
Why has someone not made a Maxi Dress out of a unwanted paddling pool so that it doesn’t wind up in landfill or the Ocean and provide months of wear for an female who enjoys wearing outfits made from PVC or Latex
Sounds like a business opportunity for you right there!
What about using a solvent like vinyl weld to reduce it to a liquid that could be injected in between two pressing plates and allowed to cure thereby creating a record that could be listened to.
Oh, I’m not too sure David! The problem is the C part of PVC – the chloride. Chlorine is very toxic and could be released when reduced to a liquid. I think it’s why most recyclers won’t touch it, apart from when, in this case, the PVC remains untouched.
And do they donate to charity? Otherwise we are giving a company free materials as they don’t actually pay for it. Good idea but I hope a charity benefits too.
Old inflatables can’t be recycled so they would otherwise end up in landfill. I’m 100% behind giving an organisation that is able and willing to use their valuable time, creativity and resources to create new items from materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill. This is the kind of circular economy that’s really important to foster, but if it’s not for you then that’s ok.
Any pick up points near me? Devon Tq5 9ff…..have two 8 ft pools and more… Also do u take airbeds?
Thanks
Hi Laura, I was just sharing the news about this service – you will need to contact Wyatt and Jack directly!
What a great idea! They also look amazing.