Our Story
EcoServe Tennis is a youth-led, eco-friendly nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainability and equity in tennis. We recycle used tennis balls and racket strings to reduce environmental waste, as well as collect gently used tennis gear to donate to underserved BIPOC communities. With global partners supporting our mission, EcoServe Tennis empowers youth from all backgrounds to access the sport, while championing a more inclusive and sustainable future for tennis worldwide.
HOW DOES TENNIS WASTE EFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT?
PARTNERS
EcoServe Tennis partners with trusted recycling organizations that specialize in processing tennis equipment responsibly. These partnerships allow us to ensure that every ball, string, and piece of gear collected through our program is repurposed or recycled in an eco-friendly way. By collaborating with industry experts, we’re able to keep waste out of landfills and give used materials a second life.
Our Solutions
1
Recycle Used Tennis Balls
Each year, an estimated 125 million tennis balls are discarded in the United States, with the majority ending up in landfills, where they take 400+ years to decompose. In partnership with RecycleBalls, we collect used tennis balls from players, clubs, and organizations, repurposing them into innovative materials used for court surfaces, playgrounds, and other sustainable products. This initiative reduces landfill waste and promotes circular sustainability within the sport.
2
Recycle Used Tennis Strings
Despite the scale of waste generated each year, tennis strings remain one of the sport’s most overlooked environmental issues. With roughly 7 million rackets restrung annually, an estimated 84,000 km of string—enough to circle the Earth twice—is discarded, producing nearly 800 tons of COâ‚‚ when sent to landfills. EcoServe Tennis partners with Orobor to change that. Together, we collect and recycle used racket strings, diverting non-biodegradable materials from landfills and advancing a circular, sustainable future for tennis.
3
Support Underserved Communities
Access to quality equipment remains one of the biggest barriers for underrepresented youth in tennis. EcoServe Tennis works to bridge this gap by collecting and donating gently used rackets, shoes, apparel, and other gear to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities that have historically faced barriers to participation in the sport.
Through these donations, we not only reduce environmental waste but also promote equity, ensuring that all youth, regardless of background, have the opportunity to play, learn, and grow through tennis.
Stay Informed
Join our community to hear about our latest initiatives, impact stories, and updates, as well as how to support our mission.