SWIMMERS in Salisbury are being urged to think twice before binning broken goggles or worn-out armbands, as the city’s leisure centre helps drive a recycling scheme making waves across the UK.

Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury has collected 41.80kg of unwanted pool equipment since joining the national Leisure Loop Recycling Scheme in 2023 – preventing 24.66kg of CO2 emissions in the process.

The scheme allows swimmers to recycle items that cannot go in standard kerbside bins, including flip flops, floats, kickboards, pull buoys and swim caps.

Each participating site has a dedicated 100-litre recycling point where residents can drop off used kit.

Across Wiltshire, more than 213kg of pool waste has been collected so far.

Sister site Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham ranks among the UK’s top 10 recycling centres, having gathered nearly 65kg alone.

Research by Leisure Loop suggests the average six-lane pool generates more than 100 litres of waste every month – from snapped goggles to punctured inflatables.

Nationally, that could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in just eight months if left unchecked.

Instead, the collected items are sorted, shredded and processed into new raw materials, which are then turned into products such as plastic panels and changing room structures – completing what organisers call a circular “leisure loop”.

Cabinet member for communities, engagement and corporate services Cllr Mel Jacob 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 also show that our communities are really embracing this opportunity to reduce waste.

“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.”

Scheme founder Cameron Manson added: “We’re delighted to recognise Wiltshire Council as one of our Top 10 Recycling Sites of 2025.”