Local pools make a splash in nationwide Leisure Loop recycling initiative

Wiltshire residents are being encouraged to recycle their broken and unwanted pool accessories - such as goggles, armbands and floats - through an innovative scheme operating at swimming pools across the county.

Collectively, Wiltshire’s leisure centres have contributed over 213kg of pool waste, supporting a growing national movement to divert difficult-to-recycle materials away from landfill.

Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury: collected 41.80kg of waste, saving 24.66kg CO_2.

Research from Leisure Loop shows that the average six-lane swimming pool generates over 100 litres of pool waste every month – everything from broken goggles to worn-out floats. If every UK pool worked together, the waste produced could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in just eight months.

The scheme’s first national collective milestone is to recycle enough pool waste to fill an entire 25‑metre swimming pool. Wiltshire’s contributions are helping accelerate progress towards this goal, demonstrating how local action can fuel national impact.

Each participating Wiltshire Council site has a 100‑litre Leisure Loop recycling point where residents can drop off used poolside items such as flip flops, floats, kickboards, pull buoys and swim caps – items that cannot be recycled through standard kerbside collections.

Once collected, items are sorted by material type and colour, then shredded, washed and processed into a new raw material. This is used to create recycled plastic panels, which are then manufactured into new industry products such as changing room structures, completing the circular ‘leisure loop’.

The scheme also offers educational resources to help younger swimmers understand the environmental impact of pool waste and the importance of recycling.

Cllr Mel Jacob, Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement and Corporate Services, said: “It’s inspiring to see Wiltshire’s leisure centres among the top contributors nationally to the Leisure Loop scheme, with Olympiad Leisure Centre ranked within the UK’s top ten recyclers. The efforts of Trowbridge, Pewsey and Five Rivers also show that our communities are really embracing this opportunity to reduce waste.

“Swimming pools generate a lot of equipment waste, and before much of it simply couldn’t be recycled. This scheme has changed that, giving residents a simple way to dispose of old goggles, floats and armbands responsibly while preventing significant volumes from going to landfill.

“What’s particularly exciting is that these discarded items aren’t just being diverted from waste – they’re being transformed into useful new products for the leisure industry, helping to create a true circular economy. It’s a fantastic example of local action driving real environmental impact, and we are incredibly proud of the role Wiltshire is playing in leading the way.”