TreadLightly Recycling
Together we can step into a better future
Spalding is pleased to announce that it has partnered with TreadLightly – and their new sports ball recycling program.
TreadLightly is an industry-led national recycling program established in 2021, powered by the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA). The program is dedicated to empowering Aussie sports enthusiasts to lower their impact on the planet and helping to actively combat the waste generated by the sports industry.
GN Sports
Treadlightly Ball Count
GN Sports PTY LTD (Sherrin and Spalding) have begun collecting used balls in 2025. These used balls include Customer and employee returns, Faulty balls out of stock, Sporting club donations and samples located in the office/warehouse.
With all of these returns GN Sports as of 28/2/26 have contributed...
363 Total Balls
Solving the Problem
From 29th August 2024, TreadLightly’s new sports ball recycling program, is aimed at reducing the millions of sports balls that end up in landfill each year.
It is estimated that 330 million balls are made worldwide each year, and sadly most of these eventually end up in landfill, where it can take up to 400 years to decompose.
The Goal
The goal of this program is to provide a local solution to a global waste problem. TreadLightly aims for 100% of the sports ball to be recycled. The ball is cut into pieces, reusable components are extracted, including rubber, leather and fibres and turned into recycled crumb at local recycling plants. This gives the used balls new life as useful products like retail flooring and anti-fatigue mats.
There are a number of brands who are part of this new program alongside Sherrin, including Spalding Australia, Tennis Australia, Rebel, Nike, Wilson and Dunlop.
Basketball Victoria partners with
Treadlightly
Basketball Victoria has joined the TreadLightly program as its newest partner, supporting efforts to reduce the millions of sports balls that are discarded into landfill each year.
Basketball Victoria’s Chief Operating Officer Ben Pahl says that Basketball Victoria is passionate about securing the future of sport for generations to come and is looking forward to encouraging their community to step up and recycle their unwanted sports balls.
“We’re excited to be part of the TreadLightly program, helping our network to recycle their unwanted basketballs instead of just throwing them in the bin. With millions of basketballs manufactured each year, this is an easy way for basketball participants to step up and do their bit for the planet,” said Pahl.
Basketball Victoria has placed five collection locations in Victoria for unwanted basketballs:
• Knox Basketball - State Basketball Centre, Wantirna South, Victoria• Bendigo Basketball Association - Red Energy Arena, West Bendigo
• Geelong United - Beyond Bank Stadium, Belmont
• Ballarat Basketball Association - Minerdome, Wendouree
How you can participate?
If you have any pre-loved balls laying around, you can visit one of the hundreds of collection sites across Australia, including Rebel Sport stores, and drop off your pre-loved basketballs.
For more info, please visit treadlightly.asga.com.au
