i2M is Making a Difference, Diverting PVC Pool Liners from Landfills
As cooler temperatures arrive and warmer ones depart, we approach the end of swimming season. It’s likely that people around the country will assess their pools to see if any repairs or replacements are needed. Some vinyl pool liners – following their 10-20 year product life – will need to be replaced after years of wear and tear.
Previously, these used pool liners may have been destined for a landfill. However, vinyl manufacturer i2M has a program designed to counteract that. ReNew™ Champions is i2M’s post-consumer recycling program that improves circularity and reduces plastic landfill waste.
What is it?
ReNew™ Champions is i2M’s full-service take-back program. Currently available in select markets, the program begins with a customer’s application for a collection container, which is reviewed by the i2M team. After approval, i2M sends the customer two heavy-duty bins. This is where old, used pool liners can be placed. Once these bins are full, the customer can inform i2M, who arranges for pickup. The transportation of the post-consumer product is completely covered by i2M, which then also sends back empty collection bins for future pickups. Being a member of the ReNew™ Champions program is a way to ensure that your vinyl waste ends up back in the ecosystem, and on top of that, the whole process is done with a guiding hand from i2M. The only things a customer needs to do is request membership in the program (feel free to reach out on www.i2m.com for enrollment information) and then inform i2M that the bins are full. Everything else is handled by i2M.
Where do the liners go?
The post-consumer product gathered through i2M’s ReNew™ Champions program is recycled into a diverse array of high-quality waterproofing membranes for commercial and residential construction industries. i2M’s ReNew™ technology is a great proof point to show off the circularity of vinyl material, and we are excited to see where this technology can be improved to continually lower the environmental impact of our industry.
What’s next for the program?
i2M’s ReNew™ Champions program is an important step towards limiting the amount of used pool liners ending up in landfills, and the company is planning to expand the program to include other flexible film categories, including waterproofing membranes and roofing.
Currently, i2M’s ReNew™ Champions pool liner take-back program is focused on the East Coast of the U.S. But, along with its trucking partner Trident Transport, i2M is confident that the program will expand further in the next 18 months. It has already done so, increasing the number of locations covered by the program significantly from 2021-2022, which helped i2M increase its active ReNew™ Champions partner count by 196% year-over-year!
