Leesburg, VA (February 5, 2025) – The Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) and the Parks & Recreation Department are teaming up to launch a Tennis Ball Recycling Program. 

Beginning today, visitors to both the indoor and outdoor tennis courts at Ida Lee Park will be able to dispose of their used tennis balls in bins located at the indoor courts as well as inside the tennis pavilion. The Town will work with RecycleBalls as the service provider to ensure that used tennis balls are collected and handled sustainably.

According to RecycleBalls, the number of tennis balls thrown in the trash every hour in the U.S. is equivalent to two times the height of the Empire State Building. Tennis balls take 400 years to decompose, so the environmental impact of removing them from the landfill is significant. The Ida Lee Tennis Center goes through roughly 720 tennis balls a month, equivalent to 8,640 a year.

The tennis balls collected by RecycleBalls can be used in the construction of tennis courts and equestrian arena footing.

"Our community takes pride in its thriving tennis program, and we're excited to partner with RecycleBalls to ensure that sustainability is part of the game. We go through more tennis balls than all the dogs in our community could enjoy. By recycling tennis balls, we can keep waste out of landfills and support innovative reuse. This program is a perfect example of our commitment to protect the environment and promote a greener future for all," Sustainability Manager Deb Moran stated.

To learn more about the program, visit www.recycleballs.org.

Pictured: Tennis pro Roxana Carmen-Roe with a RecycleBalls bin