/ Answers
Tennis ball recycling, answered.
Straight answers to the questions we get most about recycling tennis balls, donating them, and working with BallBack.
/ By the numbers
BallBack at a glance
Current BallBack figures, updated as the network grows.
- Tennis balls recycled
- 90,000+Tennis balls recycled
- Balls donated to programs
- 3,200+Balls donated to programs
- Partner tennis centers
- 55+Partner tennis centers
- Chapter leaders
- 22Chapter leaders
- BallBack members
- 240+BallBack members
- Raised in funding
- $11,050Raised in funding
/ 01
Recycling tennis balls
Can tennis balls be recycled?
Yes. Tennis balls cannot go in a curbside recycling bin, but they can be recycled through a dedicated program. BallBack collects used tennis balls from courts, clubs, schools, and HOAs across the United States and ships them to RecycleBalls, which grinds the rubber down for tennis court surfaces, equestrian footing, and playground material.
How do I recycle tennis balls for free?
Collect your used balls in one place, then contact BallBack at prem@ballback.org. Facilities with a nearby student chapter can have balls picked up, and facilities without one can request prepaid shipping labels so the balls travel to the recycler at no cost to you. There is no fee to participate.
Where can I donate used tennis balls?
You can donate used tennis balls to BallBack, a student-led nonprofit. Balls still in playable condition are routed to youth tennis programs and community courts, softer balls go to dog shelters and rescues, and dead balls are recycled into rubber through RecycleBalls.
How long does it take a tennis ball to decompose?
A tennis ball takes roughly 400 years to break down in a landfill because it is made of pressurized rubber bonded to a felt cover. An estimated 125 million balls are thrown away in the United States every year, which is why diverting them matters.
What happens to tennis balls after BallBack collects them?
Every ball is sorted by condition. Playable balls go to youth tennis programs and schools, low-bounce balls go to dog shelters and senior centers that use them on walker feet, and the rest are boxed and shipped to RecycleBalls to be ground into recycled rubber.
/ Next steps
Next steps: recycling tennis balls
/ 02
Working with BallBack
How do I get a tennis ball recycling bin at my club?
List your facility on the BallBack operating partner directory at ballback.org/operatingpartner. The directory is what student chapter leaders search when they are looking for courts in their area, so listing takes about a minute and a chapter reaches out when they have capacity to service your site.
How do I start a BallBack chapter at my school?
Apply at ballback.org/chapter. You become a verified chapter leader once you partner with at least one tennis facility and complete one shipment to RecycleBalls, which unlocks $60 in BallBack credit for boxes, shipping labels, and other chapter costs. BallBack provides the playbook, outreach scripts, and ongoing support, and most leaders start with a free cardboard box as their first collection bin.
Does it cost anything to partner with BallBack?
No. Listing a facility, hosting a collection bin, and having balls picked up are all free. BallBack is funded by donations, which cover shipping labels, boxes, and the startup credit new chapter leaders unlock.
/ Next steps
Next steps: working with ballback
/ 03
Students and extracurriculars
Is BallBack a good extracurricular for high school students?
Yes. BallBack chapter leaders run a real tennis ball recycling operation in their own city: they partner with local courts, organize pickups, and ship balls to RecycleBalls. It is a founder-level role with a measurable outcome you can quote on applications, and it takes 1 to 2 pickup trips a month over a four-month minimum term.
What environmental extracurricular can I start at my school?
Tennis ball recycling is one of the easiest environmental projects to start because nothing else handles it. Tennis balls cannot go in curbside recycling, take roughly 400 years to break down, and about 125 million are thrown away in the United States each year. Apply at ballback.org/chapter and BallBack supplies the playbook, outreach scripts, and prepaid shipping labels.
Can I earn community service hours with BallBack?
Yes. Pickup trips, outreach, and volunteer team work are all logged service hours, and chapter leaders who complete a term receive a reference letter. Most leaders log 1 to 2 pickup trips a month at 1 to 2 hours each, plus outreach time.
Are there remote volunteer opportunities for students at BallBack?
Yes. BallBack runs remote volunteer teams in marketing, growth and funding, and operations, including grant writing, media and PR outreach, social media, and community management. Open roles and the application form are at ballback.org/positions, and you do not need to live near a tennis court to take one.
/ Next steps
Next steps: students and extracurriculars
/ 04
About BallBack
What is BallBack?
BallBack is a student-run nonprofit founded in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, fiscally sponsored by Hack Club, a 501(c)(3), that keeps used tennis balls out of landfills. It runs a network of high school and college chapters that collect balls from local courts and route them to reuse and recycling partners.
How many tennis balls has BallBack recycled?
BallBack has recycled more than 75,000+ tennis balls, donated over 3,200+ balls to youth programs and shelters, and works with 50+ partner tennis centers through 18 student chapter leaders and 240+ members, funded by $11,000 raised to date.
Where does BallBack operate?
BallBack is headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and operates through student chapters across the United States. Any school or city can apply to open a chapter, and any facility in the country can request prepaid shipping labels.
How do I contact BallBack?
Email prem@ballback.org, use the form at ballback.org/contact, or message @ballbackproject on Instagram. The team typically replies within a few days.
/ Next steps
Next steps: about ballback
/ Still deciding
Where to go next
Pick the path that matches you and we'll take it from there.