On Earth Day 2026, Tennis Canada reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development by highlighting one of its most impactful initiatives: the recycling of tennis balls, carried out in partnership with RecycleBalls Canada.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of tennis balls are used in clubs, training centres, and tournaments across the country. In the past, these balls ended their life cycle in landfills. Today, thanks to an innovative and collaborative approach, they can be collected, transformed, and reused.
RecycleBalls: A Growing Canadian Solution
Founded in 2021, RecycleBalls Canada is the only organization in the country offering a recycling solution dedicated to used tennis balls. In partnership with RecycleBalls USA – a network established in 2017 that now includes more than 1,500 partners and collaborates with the USTA (United States Tennis Association) – the Canadian initiative is experiencing remarkable growth.
Supported by Tendev, a Quebec-based non-profit organization led by the Langlois family and a community of passionate volunteers, RecycleBalls Canada’s mission is to make the sport of tennis more environmentally responsible.
The results reflect this growing momentum:
2022: 50,000 balls recycled
2023: 100,000 balls recycled
2024: 200,000 balls recycled
2025: 250,000 balls recycled
Beyond waste reduction, the recycling process creates value-added products that meet real needs, including:
Rubber powder used in the design of sports surfaces and playgrounds, including tennis courts;
By-products used in equestrian footing, improving horse safety and performance through better shock absorption, reduced dust, and improved moisture retention.
Interestingly, the Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto was once resurfaced using recycled balls. When the courts were repainted ahead of the National Bank Open, rubber powder recovered through the ball recycling process helped give new life to the tournament’s main court.
With the goal of reaching one million balls recycled annually by 2030, the program is emerging as a key driver of sustainable transformation within the tennis ecosystem.
A Concrete Commitment from Tennis Canada
A partner of RecycleBalls Canada for six years, Tennis Canada has gradually implemented new processes to optimize ball recovery and reduce the environmental footprint of its activities.
In 2025:
Nearly 18,000 balls were recycled at its two main facilities, IGA Stadium in Montreal and Sobeys Stadium in Toronto;
Approximately 7,000 additional balls were collected during tournaments held across the country.
The Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) will officially roll out the initiative starting in 2026, while the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM) has been promoting it to its members since 2025.
A Sustainable Vision for the Future
For Tennis Canada, this initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate sustainable practices at all levels of its operations.
“At Tennis Canada, we have a responsibility to evolve our sport in a more sustainable way and to leave a positive legacy for future generations. Our partnership with RecycleBalls is a concrete example of this commitment: not only are we reducing the environmental footprint associated with the use of thousands of balls each year, but we are also helping give them a useful second life. It’s a tangible example that shows how simple actions, when structured and scaled nationally, can have a real impact on the environment and the sustainability of the sport.”
— Frédérique Bujold, Project Coordinator, Operations, IGA Stadium
A Collective Effort
The success of this initiative relies on collective mobilization. Clubs, municipalities, provincial associations, and national organizations are joining forces to evolve practices and build a more sustainable model.
This Earth Day, Tennis Canada invites the entire tennis community to take part in the movement. Every ball recovered represents another step toward a more responsible sport. To learn more about the program and how to participation, email info@tenniscanada.com
