I have an 18x4 Intex pool that has fulfilled its duty as a pool. However, it now has a very, leaky ring that will not hold air. I would love to hear of some ideas for recycling or reusing all of this vinyl.
RE: Recycling A Vinyl Pool
I built a very large three tiered fountain. At Home Depot they sell these really pretty decorative blocks, mine are a rose colored. My lining was actually shower pan liner, but you could use a pool liner. I would put a layer of decorative blocks in a large circle. Inside the circle you can add sand to keep the weeds down then a layer of plastic to also keep the bottom of the fountain soft and weed free. Then I added another layer of decorative stones, staggering them. Next you take your liner and lay it out inside your circle, smoothing out the liner as best as you can. At this time you can start to add a little water just to help the plastic liner flow into place. Now add your fountain. I did set the guts to my fountain on a masonery block in the center of the pool, add underwater lighting, working the electrical lines over the decorative stones.
I turned mine into an aquaponic garden and grew almost 400 pounds of fish, vegetables and fruit over a 10 month season. Here is a link to a photo: bit.ly/
You could donate it to a school who could then use the vinyl in art projects. Or perhaps you could cut it up and keep a few of the pieces as patches for leaky blow up toys that are nearing the end of their life cycles.
You could use it for a tarp to cover your riding lawn mower or tractor. Or you could use it when raking leaves; just rake leaves onto the liner, and pull to where ever you need to. Or, this is not really a green tip because it would not break down eventually, but I am constantly on the look out for things that I can use underneath mulch, to keep the weeds from growing.
