Omar Khalid
Plastic floaties are typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a strong material that carries a recycling category of 3. This means that floaties can be recycled depending on the facility and the plastic's condition. Some companies, such as TerraCycle and Funsicle, offer free recycling programs for inflatable pool waste. Alternatively, eco-friendly floaties made from polyethylene, the plastic used for soda and water bottles, are now available and can be easily recycled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or recycling category 3 plastic is hard to recycle but possible. |
| Recycling Process | Clean, shred, melt into hard plastic, remold for new products. |
| Recycling Programs | TerraCycle, Funsicle, Ploys Design, Floatie Kings |
| Recycling Tips | Deflate, dry, repair, donate, sell, or give away. |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic floaties are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- PVC is a strong material with a recycling category of 3
- Eco-friendly floaties are made from polyethylene, a recyclable plastic
- TerraCycle and Funsicle® offer a free recycling program for pool floats
- Ploys Design in Queensland recycles and repurposes PVC pool floats
Plastic floaties are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Some companies, such as Funsicle and TerraCycle, have partnered to create free recycling programs for pool floats and inflatables. These programs involve sending in your deflated, dry, and cleaned inflatables to be shredded and melted into hard plastic. This raw material is then sold to manufacturers to make new plastic goods such as outdoor furniture, shipping pallets, and playground surface covers.
Another company, Ploys Design in Queensland, Australia, up-cycles and repurposes soft PVC material into ecologically sustainable products. They offer free shipping labels for people to send in their pool floats to be recycled.
If you are unable to recycle your plastic floaties, consider repairing them instead of throwing them away. There are repair kits, plastic sealants, and PVC adhesives available to fix leaks and extend the life of your floaties. Alternatively, you can donate or sell your old floaties to someone who may still find them useful.
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PVC is a strong material with a recycling category of 3
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a strong material with a recycling category of 3. This means that it is designed to be strong and durable, but this strength also makes it hard to recycle. While it is technically recyclable, it is not accepted by most standard recycling programs and often ends up being incinerated or sent to landfills, which can cause dioxin poisoning of the air, water, and soil.
PVC is one of the oldest synthetic materials in industrial production, discovered in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann. Some of the first products made from PVC were golf balls and shoe heels, but it soon became widely used for raincoats, shower curtains, pipes, and other items. Today, it is the fifth most common plastic type used in the US bottle market, with more than 7 billion pounds thrown away each year.
Due to its strength and durability, PVC is often used for products like inflatable pools and pool floats. While these items may have some value to others, even when they are no longer useful to you, they can be challenging to recycle. It is important to check with your local recycling center or collection office to see if they accept PVC for recycling. Some companies, like TerraCycle and Funsicle, offer brand-specific recycling programs for pool floats and inflatables.
To reduce your environmental impact, you can also consider alternatives to recycling. Inflatable pools and floats can be sold, donated, or given away to friends, family, or neighbors who may still find them useful. With some creativity, old inflatables can even be transformed into something new!
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Eco-friendly floaties are made from polyethylene, a recyclable plastic
Most floaties are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a strong material that is difficult to recycle. However, some companies like Ploys Design in Queensland, Australia, are upcycling and repurposing soft PVC material into ecologically sustainable products.
If you are looking for eco-friendlier options, floaties made from polyethylene are a good alternative. Polyethylene is a recyclable plastic, and some companies have started recycling programs to recycle polyethylene floaties. For example, Funsicle has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free recycling program for Funsicle pool floats and inflatable pools.
Through this program, you can ship your deflated Funsicle floaties to TerraCycle for free to be recycled. You can download and print a prepaid shipping label from their website, and they also accept shipments from those on the waitlist. You can also earn TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points by recycling with them, which can be redeemed for donations to schools, charities, or nonprofits.
Some other ways to dispose of your old floaties include selling or giving them away to friends, neighbors, or second-hand stores. With some creativity, you can also transform your old floaties into something new or continue using them with some patching.
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TerraCycle and Funsicle® offer a free recycling program for pool floats
Most inflatables are made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC, which is a strong material that is hard to recycle. However, TerraCycle and Funsicle® have partnered to create a free recycling program for Funsicle pool floats and inflatable pools. The program is brand-specific, meaning only Funsicle products can be recycled through it.
The process is simple: deflate your Funsicle inflatables, place them in any box, and ship them to TerraCycle using a free shipping label. You can download the shipping label after creating a TerraCycle account and joining the Funsicle Inflatables Free Recycling Program. TerraCycle requests that you only ship a full box of Funsicle inflatables to minimize the transportation carbon footprint of the program.
Once collected, the floats and pools are cleaned, shredded, and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. Through this program, TerraCycle and Funsicle have diverted more than 2,750 pounds of PVC waste from landfills.
In addition to the TerraCycle and Funsicle partnership, Ploys Design in Queensland also recycles and repurposes soft PVC pool floats into ecologically sustainable products.
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Ploys Design in Queensland recycles and repurposes PVC pool floats
Ploys Design in Queensland, Australia, is a company that recycles and repurposes PVC pool floats and other inflatables. The company transforms soft PVC material into ecologically sustainable products, such as bags, purses, and home decor items, that can be reused. Ploys Design accepts donations of punctured or discarded pool inflatables, air mattresses, rubber boats, and broken umbrellas, provided they are in near-new condition and not mouldy, discoloured, or stained. The company sources its materials locally and is committed to reducing plastic waste and pollution, as well as providing local employment opportunities.
Ploys Design has partnered with Sunnylife, an Australian company, to launch a PVC recycling campaign. Through this collaboration, individuals can send their Sunnylife pool floats for free to be recycled and transformed into new products. This initiative aims to give pool floats a second life and promote sustainability.
In addition to Ploys Design, there are other organisations that offer pool float recycling programs. For example, TerraCycle and Funsicle have partnered to create a free recycling program for Funsicle pool floats and inflatable pool waste. This program allows individuals to ship their deflated Funsicle inflatables for recycling and earn rewards points that can be redeemed as donations to schools, charities, or nonprofits.
It is important to note that recycling pool floats and inflatables made from PVC can be challenging due to the material's strength and durability. PVC is typically assigned a recycling category of 3, indicating that it is not accepted at all recycling facilities and requires specialised centres for processing. However, companies like Ploys Design are dedicated to finding innovative ways to recycle and repurpose these materials, contributing to a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Most floaties are made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC, which is a category 3 plastic. While it is recyclable, it is not accepted by all recycling facilities due to its strength and the resulting difficulty in recycling it. You can check with your local recycling centre to see if they accept it.
Some companies, such as Ploys Design in Queensland, Australia, up-cycle and repurpose soft PVC material into ecologically sustainable products. Funsicle also has a free recycling program where you can send in your Funsicle pool floats and they will recycle it for you.
Yes, you can find eco-friendly floaties made from polyethylene, the plastic used to make soda and water bottles. This type of plastic is more easily recyclable and is also non-toxic.
You can enrol in the Funsicle Inflatables Free Recycling Program by creating an account on their website. Once enrolled, you can start collecting your deflated Funsicle floaties in any box you have. When your box is full, log in to your account, download and print a prepaid shipping label, seal the box with the label, and send it off to be recycled.
