Articles

New scheme to improve recycling rates at swimming pools

Date Posted: 9:48 AM on Wed, 22 March 2023

Gedling Borough Council is proud to announce that an innovative recycling scheme is now available at the Arnold, Calverton and Carlton Forum leisure centres.

The Leisure Loop Recycling Scheme makes it easier for swimmers to recycle many common items at their local centres such as goggles, swim caps, and floats.

The launch of this recycling scheme at Gedling Borough Council’s swimming pools is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Most swimming products such as armbands, floats and goggles cannot be recycled by conventional methods which means that these items would normally end up in landfill or be incinerated. It is estimated that the average pool will generate roughly 15kg of waste every 2-3 months, which is potentially over 350 pairs of goggles.

If swimmers use the new recycling scheme at Gedling’s leisure centres, a significant amount of waste could therefore be recycled instead to create new products for the industry, such as flip flops.

Each recycling point holds up to 20kg, or 100 litres, of items which will be taken away to be processed where the items are separated and sorted. The materials are then shredded, cleaned and turned into small pieces of a new version of raw material which can be used to produce new products in the UK.

Councillor Henry Wheeler, Portfolio Holder Lifestyles, Health & Wellbeing said:

“Swimming products such as goggles, armbands and floats are very difficult to recycle and they require specialist recycling equipment due to the types of plastics and other materials used.

Being able to offer residents the opportunity to recycle their old, unwanted or broken swimming gear in their local leisure centres is a hugely positive step in helping to reduce the amount of waste in the borough.

The council is always looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact and with our pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, it is smart recycling solutions like this which help to really make a difference”. 

Sim Duhra, Climate Change Officer for Gedling Borough Council, added:

“This fantastic scheme provides a way for people to recycle some of the most hard to recycle materials, such as plastics. Recycling in this way also reduces the demand on new products being produced using raw materials, which in turn helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

The recycling points are located near the reception areas in the Arnold, Calverton and Carlton Forum leisure centres. Items accepted in the recycling scheme include plastic and foam armbands, swim caps, goggles, flip flops, foam floats and pool noodles. Wherever possible, swimmers are encouraged to use the recycling points to dispose of these items instead of putting them in their general household waste bins.