Our Journey
The problem
As any tennis player would know, the average tennis ball can last only around a month or two with consistent use. When we began playing tennis, we came across the problem of what to do with our old tennis balls. We noticed that our coaches and teammates were simply throwing out the tennis balls and cans, and this gave us inspiration.
Climate issue
In America alone, approximately 125 million tennis balls end up in landfills annually. In 10 years, that's 1.25 billion tennis balls! Since they are made with rubber, plastic, and synthetic felt, they take a very long time to decompose. Tennis balls are non-biodegradable and over the course of 400 years, will release thousands of metric tons of methane and microplastics while decaying.
The solution
Since tennis ball recycling centers do not exist in CT, we decided to take action against this issue. In the summer of 2024, we developed a contraption that allows tennis players to easily repurpose their worn tennis balls.
About us
As a small group of 16-year-olds in high school, this initiative cannot be more exciting. We were always passionate about the environment, but clueless as to how to make a difference. However, once we began this project, it was clear that this would make an impact. It has helped us grow in ways we never would have been able to, and as we continue to invest ourselves, our passion, and our ideas, we believe Take a Ball. Leave a Ball. Save the Planet Inc. will further teach us and others the importance and feasibility of reducing waste. From CAD designing an initial prototype to learning how to own and operate a non-profit organization, we truly hope to build a community based around environmental consciousness in Connecticut.
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