The quick answer
- Most inflatable pools are trash. They are usually made of PVC vinyl, which curbside recycling programs do not accept.
- Drain and dry it first. Let treated water lose its chlorine, empty it onto your lawn where that is allowed, and keep it out of storm drains.
- Deflate, fold and bag it. A folded kiddie pool fits in most trash carts; a big family pool may need a scheduled bulky pickup or a run to a transfer station.
- Split off the extras. Electric pumps belong with electronics or small appliance recycling, metal frame poles can go to scrap metal, and leftover chemicals go to household hazardous waste.
- Check rigid kiddie pools. Hard plastic pools marked #2 or #5 are accepted by some recycling programs, unlike inflatables.
Patch it, pass it on or reuse it
A slow leak is not always the end. Fill the rings with air, brush soapy water over the seams and valves, and watch for bubbles. Small holes in vinyl can usually be sealed with the repair patch that came with the pool or a store-bought vinyl patch kit. Valve leaks often come down to a missing plug or a bit of grit in the seat.
If the pool still holds air but your kids have outgrown it, a free listing in a neighborhood group usually moves it fast in warm months. Ask a thrift store before dropping one off, since many will not take used pool gear. A pool past saving can still do one more job: cut flat, the vinyl makes a tarp for a woodpile, a liner for a muddy truck bed, or a drop cloth for messy projects.
Draining the water first
- Plain water in a small kiddie pool can generally go on the lawn or garden beds. Spread it around so it soaks in instead of running off.
- Chlorinated water is better left uncovered in the sun for a few days without adding more sanitizer, until a test strip shows chlorine has dropped close to zero. Then drain slowly onto your own grass.
- Keep it out of the street, gutter and storm drain. In many areas storm drains carry water straight to creeks and lakes with no treatment, and local rules often prohibit draining pool water into them.
- Large pools hold enough water to flood a neighbor's yard. Drain in stages with a garden hose or a small pump, and check your city or county rules first if you are unsure where the water can go.
- Dry it before you fold it. Wipe out the last puddle and let the vinyl air-dry, or it will mildew and stink in the bag.
Take it apart
A simple ring pool is one piece of vinyl. Bigger above-ground inflatables and frame pools come with parts that do not belong in the same place. Before you fold anything, pull off and sort:
- The inflatable pool body or liner
- The filter pump and its power cord, if there is one
- Filter cartridges
- Steel frame poles and connectors, on frame-style pools
- Ladder, ground cloth, cover and hoses
- Any chlorine, test kits or other chemicals you bought for it
Open every valve and roll the pool up from the far end toward the valves to push out the last of the air. Cutting the vinyl into a few pieces with heavy scissors makes a large pool easier to bag and keeps it from tangling in a trash truck.
Where each part goes
| Part | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|
| Inflatable vinyl pool or liner | Trash cart, bagged and folded, or bulky pickup if it will not fit |
| Rigid plastic kiddie pool (#2 or #5) | Some recycling programs, often only as a bulky rigid plastic item; otherwise trash |
| Electric filter pump | Electronics or small appliance recycling, or a scrap yard that takes motors |
| Filter cartridges | Trash |
| Steel frame poles | Scrap metal recycling or a transfer station metal pile |
| Ground cloth, cover, hoses | Reuse if you can; otherwise trash |
| Leftover chlorine and pool chemicals | Household hazardous waste collection |
Leave any chlorine or shock in the bottle or bucket it came in, cap it firmly and keep different products apart. Hazardous waste sites and how they accept these products are covered in turning in leftover pool chemicals, and the propane tank and pool chemical disposal guide covers where to find one. Larger pumps are covered in how to dispose of a pool pump.
Can an inflatable pool be recycled?
Almost never through your recycling cart. Inflatable pools, pool floats and air mattresses are typically PVC, plastic #3, which most curbside programs exclude. Large flexible sheets can also wrap around the sorting equipment at recycling plants. Napa, California's recycling guide, for example, sends inflatable pools to the landfill cart and only accepts kiddie pools made of rigid #2 or #5 plastic, and Calgary lists kiddie and inflatable pools as garbage. Your own program's rules decide, so check its online lookup tool if it has one.
The same thinking applies to other blow-up gear. See how to dispose of an air mattress for mattresses with built-in pumps and how to dispose of an inflatable hot tub for spas with heaters.
Large pools and bulky pickup
A family-size inflatable or frame pool can weigh a lot even when dry, and the folded bundle may not fit in a cart with the lid closed. Most cities and haulers handle this one of three ways:
- Cut and bag it across a few trash days, staying under your cart's weight limit.
- Schedule a bulky item pickup if your hauler offers one. Some include a few free pickups a year; others charge per item.
- Drop it at a transfer station or landfill along with other household junk. Expect a minimum charge or a per-load fee. Our dump near me page helps you find the closest one and its hours.
Taking down a hard-sided above-ground pool is a bigger job with walls, rails and a separate liner; dismantling an above-ground pool walks through that.
What not to do
- Do not drop it in the blue bin unless your local program says that plastic is welcome.
- Do not drain chlorinated water into the street or a storm drain.
- Do not burn it. Burning PVC releases harmful fumes.
- Do not leave it at the curb outside a scheduled bulky pickup, where it can blow into the road.
- Do not bin or pour out unused pool chemicals. They belong at a hazardous waste collection.
Inflatable pool disposal FAQ
Can you recycle an inflatable pool?
Usually not. Most inflatable pools are PVC vinyl, plastic #3, which curbside programs do not accept, and large flexible sheets can tangle sorting equipment. Some programs take rigid #2 or #5 plastic kiddie pools, so check your local rules.
Can I put an inflatable pool in the trash?
In most places, yes. Drain and dry it, let all the air out, then fold or cut it until the cart lid shuts. For a pool too big for that, book a bulky item pickup or take it to a transfer station.
Where should I drain the pool water?
Let chlorinated water sit uncovered for a few days until a test shows chlorine is close to zero, then drain it slowly onto your own lawn. Do not send it into the street or a storm drain, and check local rules for large pools.
What do I do with the pool pump?
An electric filter pump is a small appliance with a motor. Bring it to a drop-off that recycles electronics or small appliances, or ask a scrap yard. Used filter cartridges usually go in the trash.
Can I donate a used inflatable pool?
If it still holds air and is clean, a free listing in a local group is the most reliable option. Many thrift stores do not accept used pool gear, so call before dropping one off.
How do I get rid of leftover pool chlorine?
Keep it in the original container with the lid closed and take it to a household hazardous waste collection. Never bin it, pour it out or combine it with other products.
The bottom line
To dispose of an inflatable pool, drain the water onto your lawn once any chlorine has faded, dry the vinyl, deflate it and fold or cut it to fit your trash cart. Use a bulky item pickup or a transfer station for big pools, send electric pumps to electronics recycling, frame poles to scrap metal and leftover chemicals to household hazardous waste. If it still holds air, give it away first.