Recycling program TreadLightly is encouraging communities to take action against a growing waste problem by focusing on sports waste this Global Recycling Day.
TreadLightly is an industry-led program powered by the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA), giving new life to unwanted sports gear, including footwear and balls.
Millions of balls and shoes are made worldwide each year, most of which eventually end up in landfill.
Shoe components can take up to 1000 years to decompose, and balls can take 400 years, highlighting the need for sports enthusiasts to take action to reduce their impact on the planet.
TreadLightly has provided tips to tackle sports waste for this Global Recycling Day, 18 March, including donating old sporting gear, getting local sports clubs involved in becoming TreadLightly collection points for sports balls, finding a close TreadLightly collection box to donate items to, posting on socials to promote the initiative to friends and family and educating young athletes on the importance of recycling.
Shaun Bajada, Executive Director, from the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) said the program provides a simple solution for people to reduce their sports waste and make a difference.
“If you love sport, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do to support the next generation of sports enthusiasts. When it comes to recycling, we all need to be on team Australia,” said Bajada.
“We’re calling for every household to step up to the challenge and recycle at least one sports ball or pair of shoes this Global Recycling Day. That would be 10 million items that wouldn’t end up in landfill.
“Regardless of the condition of your old footy boots or your worn-out netball, we are able to extract materials like rubber, leather, and fibres to manufacture new products and give your unwanted sports gear new life.”
TreadLightly works with 27 of Australia’s leading sports retailers and manufacturers including Adidas, Asics, Basketball Victoria, Brooks, Dunlop, Drumond Golf, Ecco, FootJoy, Frankie4, Globe, Hush Puppies, Implus, Intersport, Macpac, Mizuno, Nike, New Balance, Platypus, Rebel Sport, RM Williams, Sherrin, Shoes & Sox, Spalding, Sportspower, Tennis Australia, The Athletes Foot, and Wilson.
Since the launch of TreadLightly 2021, the program has recycled nearly 1.5 million pairs of shoes (363 tonnes) and approximately 26,000 sports balls (26 tonnes).
The sports gear collected is either donated to community groups in need or recycled and turned into sustainable products such as rubber mats, retail flooring and more.
All material is collected, recycled and manufactured in Australia – providing a local solution to a global waste problem.
For more information, visit: treadlightly.asga.com.au/
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