Lexington begins pickleball recycling pilot program at Kirklevington Park

Pickleball’s rise in popularity is leading to a new recycling initiative at Lexington’s courts.

Recycling bins are being placed at the courts at Kirklevington Park as a pilot program for players to dispose of their old or damaged pickleballs.

“We heard about this opportunity through a nonprofit called P3 Cares that recycles the balls themselves once they become cracked or broken,” Lexington environmental initiatives specialist Chrissie Balding said. “And through them and a partnership with Lexington Parks and Rec and the Kentucky Pickleball Association, we are doing a little pilot program.”

Balding says they’re meant to accommodate the sport’s growing popularity.

“People have been asking for quite some time if there's a way to recycle these broken balls, they're a really hard type of plastic that's similar to wiffleballs,” Balding said. “And it's not the type that can go in your blue cart here in Lexington.”

The initiative officially began Monday. If it proves popular, more locations could be added.

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