New sport equipment recycling scheme looks to collaborate with sport and recreation facilities

A new sports equipment recycling scheme has been launched - Game On Recycling - which aims to prevent sports equipment entering landfill and alleviate waste stream barriers through a range of collection partnerships.

The scheme is being piloted in several venues, including the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and Parkville State Hockey and Netball Centre.

The pilot sports equipment product stewardship scheme is co-funded by the Australian Government's National Product Stewardship Investment Fund, Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) and Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Every day, around Australia, sports and leisure facilities play host to individuals, families, friends, teams and clubs participating in sport and active recreation. Participation in these activities requires a significant amount of equipment, perhaps even more than you think. In the 2022 financial year close to 7.5 million tennis balls and 8 million inflatable balls were imported for the Australian sport market.

Over time, sport equipment wears out or becomes unwanted. It ends up in charitable recycling, council or facility waste streams, including landfills, or the environment where it causes damage to natural ecosystems and our health. Some discarded equipment is still fit for purpose and other times it has reached the end of its usable life. 

Sports equipment incurs disposal costs for either those using, selling, manufacturing or salvaging equipment. Equipment accepted during the pilot phase of the Game On Recycling scheme includes tennis balls, inflates, rackets and ski equipment. Post pilot other equipment will be accepted through the scheme. Collected equipment that cannot be passed on to charitable partners for reuse is processed, separated and tested to determine its use in the Australian manufacturing industry, contributing to the circular economy.

ANZRP Chief Executive Warren Overton notes “feedback from Sports and Leisure facilities around Australia will provide us with valuable data on the type and quantity of sporting equipment waste being generated and the disposal costs across centres. The Game On Recycling product stewardship scheme success relies on cross sector collaboration and communication, we welcome insights from the teams working across materials, waste and resource recovery.”

The scheme is looking for sports and recreation facilities to participate in the national survey to provide information to inform modelling for the post pilot scheme on managing sporting equipment waste now and into the future.

To find out more or get involved in the program, please contact info@gameonrecycling.com.au

More information on Game On Recycling