UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County has launched a local pilot to recycle used pickleballs as part of our going “Beyond the Bin” recycling initiative to divert non-traditional, hard-to-recycle items.

A typical pickleball is said to last between four and eight weeks, depending on play frequency and court surface, and often loses its bounce or gets damaged. Pickleballs are challenging to recycle. Most pickleballs are made from #4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene), and while this type of plastic is technically recyclable, most local recycling facilities are unable to process the material. This is true of Sarasota County’s single-stream recycling sorting systems.

With an estimated 500 million-plus pickleballs manufactured every year, the number of balls ending up discarded starts to add up. This pilot keeps hard-to-recycle plastics out of landfills, and demonstrates an innovative, circular solution for the fast-growing sport.

UF/IFAS Extension’s Waste Reduction program, a partnership with Sarasota County Parks and Solid Waste departments, launched this pilot program to bring awareness to the larger recycling programs across the county with the goal of educating and encouraging residents to participate and recycle right!

4