Basketball Vic reduces sports ball waste with TreadLightly

Basketball Victoria has joined the TreadLightly program as its newest partner, to help reduce the millions of sports balls that are discarded into landfill each year.

TreadLightly, an industry-led national recycling program powered by the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA), is dedicated to empowering Aussie sports enthusiasts to reduce their environmental footprint by recycling their sports footwear and balls. Balls are cut into pieces, with their reusable components extracted — including rubber, leather and fibres — and turned into recycled crumb at local recycling plants.

Basketball Victoria's Chief Operating Officer, Ben Pahl, says that Basketball Victoria is passionate about securing the future of sport for generations to come and is looking forward to encouraging its community to step up and recycle unwanted sports balls.

"We're excited to be part of the TreadLightly program, helping our network to recycle their unwanted basketballs instead of just throwing them in the bin. With millions of basketballs manufactured each year, this is an easy way for basketball participants to step up and do their bit for the planet," Pahl said.

The TreadLightly Sports Ball program launched in August 2024 and has recycled over 25,000 kg of sports balls. Basketball Victoria joins Australia's sports retailers, manufacturers and sporting bodies including Tennis Australia, Rebel Sport, Nike, Wilson, Dunlop and Sherrin.

TreadLightly is aiming for 100% of sports balls to be recycled.

"We look forward to working closely with Basketball Victoria to help promote the importance of recycling within the basketball community. This is an industry lead solution, and by bringing together sporting groups, athletes, brands and communities we can make a real difference," said Shaun Bajada, Executive Director, ASGA. "In six months, the TreadLightly Sports Ball program has seen incredible growth. We look forward to continuing the momentum, and we encourage other brands and leaders in the sports industry to join us in diverting balls from landfill."

Sports balls collected will be recycled with sports and active lifestyle footwear, contributing to sustainable products such as rubber mats and retail flooring. All material is collected, recycled and manufactured in Australia.

TreadLightly also works closely with charity partners to donate sports balls to community groups in need across Australia.

Basketball Victoria has five collection locations in Victoria:

• Knox Basketball — State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South
• Bendigo Basketball Association — Red Energy Arena, West Bendigo
• Geelong United — Beyond Bank Stadium, Belmont
• Ballarat Basketball Association — Minerdome, Wendouree
• Elham Basketball Association — Montmorency Secondary College Basketball Stadium, Montmorency.
   

Collection points can be also be found at participating Rebel stores and sports clubs across Australia.