Can You Recycle Solar Pool Covers?

On this page (9 sections)

1. What are solar pool covers made of, and why does that matter?
2. Can you recycle solar pool covers at the curb?
3. Where can you take a solar pool cover to be recycled?
4. How should you prep a solar pool cover for recycling?
5. When is reuse better than recycling a solar pool cover?
6. How do you keep a solar cover out of the waste stream longer?
7. Does a well-fitted cover last longer and waste less?
8. What about the water sitting on top of the cover?
9. So, what should you do with an old solar pool cover?

Can you recycle solar pool covers? Usually not through your curbside bin.

Most are polyethylene bubble film that standard sorting systems can't process, so the realistic path is a specialty plastics recycler, a retailer take-back, or a smart reuse. The best answer is to plan for the end of the cover before you buy the next one.

A solar cover is a thin sheet of plastic with thousands of sealed air pockets. Those bubbles trap heat and slow evaporation, and they also make the material hard to sort and bulky to ship.

That's why many municipal programs turn it away at the curb.

What are solar pool covers made of, and why does that matter?

Most solar covers are polyethylene film formed into tiny bubbles. Some add a UV-resistant layer or a colored top sheet.

The VEVOR cover, for example, is 12 mil PE material with bubbles that block up to 95% of evaporation.

Those bubbles are about 9mm across and sit in a dense pattern across the whole sheet.

Polyethylene is one of the most recyclable plastics in theory. The trouble is the format.

A cover arrives as a huge, lightweight, air-filled sheet, which jams sorting equipment and takes up far more space than its weight suggests. Many facilities only accept rigid containers and bottles.

The UV layer and any printed top sheet also complicate things. A recycler needs to know whether the whole sheet is one plastic type or a mix.

The 12 mil thickness matters too, because a heavier film is closer to what some agricultural film recyclers already handle. That's why the first practical step is knowing your cover's material before you call anyone.

Can you recycle solar pool covers at the curb?

No, don't put a solar cover in your curbside bin. Curbside programs are built for bottles, jugs and cans.

A cover is film, and film usually needs a separate drop-off or commercial collection route.

Some areas run plastic film drop-offs at grocery stores, but those programs typically want clean bags and wraps, not large bubble sheets. A pool cover is too big and too specialized for that bin.

Check your local waste service's accepted-items list before you assume. If it says "no plastic film," that's your answer.

Don't hide the cover in a mixed load, since contamination can get a whole truck rejected. Call the waste office with the cover's size and material in hand so they can tell you straight away whether it is worth the trip.

Where can you take a solar pool cover to be recycled?

Try a specialty plastics recycler or a pool retailer first. Search for facilities that accept agricultural film, construction wrap or LDPE film, since those handle thick polyethylene better than municipal programs.

Call ahead with three details: the material, the size and whether the cover is clean and dry. Ask whether they take bubble film specifically, because some recyclers accept flat film but not air-filled sheets.

A 32 x 16 ft sheet at 12 mil is a lot of material, so a facility set up for farm silage wrap is a better bet than a grocery store bin.

Some pool retailers and cover manufacturers run seasonal take-back events. Ask where you bought the cover, and ask the manufacturer's support line too.

A few brands collect old covers at the end of the season.

If no one nearby takes it, ask your county's solid waste office for a referral. They often know the regional film recycler that residents and small businesses use.

Ask whether they accept it bundled or baled, since some drop-offs refuse loose sheets that blow around.

How should you prep a solar pool cover for recycling?

Clean it, dry it and strip the hardware before it goes anywhere. Pool chemicals and water weight are the two things most likely to get a cover refused.

Rinse the cover with fresh water and let it dry fully in the sun. A wet cover grows mold and adds weight that makes handling harder for the recycler.

Pool water carries chlorine and other chemicals that a recycler does not want in the melt.

Remove straps, buckles, grommets and any metal clips. On the VINGLI reel, the cover attaches with long straps that clip at several points, so pull those off before the sheet leaves the yard.

Reels themselves are metal and go in a different stream entirely.

Cut the cover into pieces only if the facility asks, since some recyclers want the sheet intact for their baler. A 32 x 16 ft cover is awkward to handle alone, so ask about size limits when you call.

Keep the cover out of the rain while you wait for a drop-off date. A dry, clean bundle is the version most likely to be accepted.

When is reuse better than recycling a solar pool cover?

Reuse wins whenever the cover still has some life left. Keeping plastic in service longer beats sending it through a recycling process that may not exist nearby.

A cover that no longer heats well can still work as a winter layer under a sturdier cover. It can also cover a woodpile, line a shed floor, or shield plants from frost.

Bubble film makes decent insulation for a garage or greenhouse. The closed bubbles that once held warmth in the pool hold it in a shed just as well.

Cut the old cover to fit the new job with clean lines. Our guide to how to cut a solar pool cover to fit covers trimming technique and edge care, and the same approach works for repurposed pieces.

If the material is brittle and cracking, reuse becomes less practical. At that point, recycling or proper disposal is the honest answer.

Test a corner first by bending it, since a cover that snaps instead of flexing has lost its flexibility and will not hold up in a new job.

How do you keep a solar cover out of the waste stream longer?

Store it properly and keep it fitted. A cover that's protected from harsh sun and stored on a reel lasts noticeably longer than one left crumpled on the deck.

A solar pool cover reel keeps the sheet off the ground, out of the sun and away from grit that scratches the film. The VINGLI 18 ft reel uses a three-section aluminum pipe and stainless legs, so it resists rust while it holds the cover clear of the deck.

The grooved reel tube keeps the attachment straps from sliding off as the cover rolls up.

Reels are worth the space if you use the cover daily. Rolling it up by hand and draping it over a fence is where most covers get torn or sun-baked.

Store the rolled cover in shade when the pool is closed for the season, and keep the reel's mechanical lock engaged so the roll stays tight.

Does a well-fitted cover last longer and waste less?

Yes, fit is the biggest factor in cover life. A cover trimmed to the pool's shape sits flat, heats better and doesn't snag on the edges when you roll it up.

An oversized cover drapes over the coping, catches wind and tears at the corners. A cover cut short leaves gaps where heat escapes.

Either way, you replace it sooner and create more plastic waste.

The VEVOR 32 x 16 ft cover is 12 mil PE and can be cut to fit any pool shape, so you can trim it to your waterline. It is a rectangle to start with, but the PE film takes a clean cut, so odd shapes like a kidney or bean pool are no problem.

A solar pool cover for inground pools is the right starting point if you're matching size and shape before you cut.

Follow our how to install a solar pool cover walkthrough to set it bubble-side down and keep the edges neat. A tidy install reduces wear and makes the cover easier to roll up.

Trim edges cleanly with sharp scissors rather than tearing by hand, since a ragged edge starts the first tear.

What about the water sitting on top of the cover?

Pump it off before it stretches the film. Standing rainwater adds weight, and a loaded cover sags, creases and tears at the seams faster.

A cover that holds water also sags into the pool and loses the air gap that does the insulating.

A cover pump is the simplest fix. The Little Giant APCP-1700 activates in about 2 in of water and shuts off when the level drops to about 1 in, and it includes a 3/4 in garden hose adapter.

The removable intake screen lets you clear debris and airlocks without taking the pump apart. Less standing water means less strain and a longer life.

Clear the water before you roll the cover up for the season. A wet cover stored folded traps moisture and can grow mildew, which shortens its life and makes recycling less likely too.

Bring the pump indoors when temperatures drop below freezing, since water left in the hose can freeze and crack the pump.

So, what should you do with an old solar pool cover?

Reuse it if it still works, recycle it through a specialty film recycler if one takes it, and dispose of it properly as the last resort. Curbside recycling won't handle most solar pool covers, so plan the end of life when you buy the next one.

Call a local plastics recycler or your pool retailer before hauling the cover anywhere. Clean and dry it, strip the hardware and keep it bundled until drop-off day.

If you can't find a taker, reuse beats the landfill. A trimmed old cover makes a serviceable winter layer or yard tarp.

Then choose a fitted replacement, keep it on a solar pool cover reel, and pump off standing water so the next cover lasts longer. That's the practical way to reduce how often you face the recycling question at all.

Frequently asked questions

Can you recycle solar pool covers in your curbside bin?

No, most curbside programs won't accept them. Solar covers are bulky polyethylene film with trapped air bubbles, and sorting systems can't handle them.

Check with your local waste service before putting one at the curb.

Can you reuse a solar pool cover instead of recycling it?

Yes, a worn cover can become a winter cover layer, a tarp for yard projects, or bubble insulation in a shed. Reusing it keeps the plastic in service longer and delays the recycling problem until the material really fails.

How do you keep a solar pool cover out of the waste stream longer?

Store it on a reel, keep it out of harsh sun when it's off the pool, and trim it to fit so edges don't fray. A properly fitted cover lasts longer, and cutting it to size early reduces the chance of tearing.