Pickleball Recycling Takes Off in Salt Lake City: In Salt Lake City, a dedicated pickleball enthusiast has launched an innovative recycling program aimed at repurposing old or unwanted pickleballs. Brenda Koga, a longtime player at Fairmont Park, was inspired to bring pickleball recycling to her community after learning about similar efforts elsewhere.
Collaborative Effort
Koga has teamed up with local community members, the Salt Lake City Parks Department, and Momentum Recycling to establish the new program. John Lair, CEO of Momentum Recycling, notes that over 500 million pickleballs are produced annually, yet many traditional recycling centers do not accept them.
“Brenda reached out to us about recycling pickleballs. Given the sport’s growing popularity, we thought it was a perfect initiative for us to support.” – (Lair)
Recycling Process
A dedicated receptacle for pickleballs has been installed at Fairmont Park. Once the container is full, Koga sends the collected balls to a non-profit organization that recycles them into new pickleballs and other products.
“She had already communicated with the pickleball manufacturer and arranged for them to take the pickleballs back so they could be remanufactured into new ones.” – (Lair)
Program Progress
The recycling process is straightforward. Used pickleballs are deposited in the recycling bin, and once a sufficient quantity is collected, Koga packages and ships them to the manufacturer for repurposing. To date, the program has successfully collected and sent back 200 pickleballs. Lair expressed hope for future expansion of the initiative.
News in Brief: Pickleball Recycling Takes Off in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, Brenda Koga has launched a pickleball recycling program at Fairmont Park, partnering with Momentum Recycling and local authorities. This initiative aims to address the environmental impact of the sport’s waste, with pickleballs collected in a dedicated bin and shipped to a non-profit for recycling.
Momentum Recycling’s John Lair highlights the significance of this effort, noting that over 500 million pickleballs are produced annually, many of which are not traditionally recycled. The program has thus far collected and returned 200 pickleballs, with plans for future expansion.
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