Bank of the West, title sponsor of the Bank of the West Classic, is sponsoring a tournament recycling initiative with Rebounces, organizers of the first national tennis ball recycling campaign. FedEx Ground, the small-package ground shipping service, will donate transportation of used tennis balls to Rebounces’ headquarters.
An estimated 300 million tennis balls are manufactured each year worldwide, and Bank of the West is encouraging tennis players and fans to bring old tennis balls to the Bank of the West Classic and recycle them. Tennis balls lose pressure with use and typically are discarded. For each dozen balls returned at the tournament July 30 through August 1, the bank and Rebounces will provide one can of new balls.
(Bill Dirst of Rebounces with the re-pressurizing machine)
The bank also supports YTA through its “Aces for Kids” contribution program at the tournament; last year $60,000 was raised through donations and the bank’s contribution of $100 for each ‘ace’ hit during the tournament.
“Green technology, recycling and supporting tennis for Bay Area youth are each worthwhile and together make a very valuable combination,” said Maria Lazzarini, Bay Area Executive for the bank. “We’re celebrating the tournament’s 40th year, and as the long-term presenting sponsor we want to offer something extra.”
Rebounces re-pressurizes tennis balls to restore dead balls to their original bounce. Rebounces’ new Green Tennis Machine allows tennis facilities to re-pressurize tennis balls on-site, saving money and reducing landfill waste. With a capacity of 400 tennis balls, the machine can re-pressurize 3,000 balls monthly and pay for itself in a year at an average-sized tennis club, according to the company.
“We are delighted to partner with Bank of the West for this opportunity to do good work for both the environment and for kids,” said Bill Dirst, CEO of Rebounces. “This recycling program and our technology can help reduce the costs involved in tennis instruction for kids and players of all abilities.”
Rebounces collected over 100,000 balls from tennis clubs and tournaments in 2009 and expects to collect more than 500,000 in 2010.
How to participate: Bring old tennis balls to the Bank of the West Classic at the Taube Tennis Pavilion at Stanford University.
When: July 26 – August 1
What to do: Recycle your used tennis balls at designated drop off spots adjacent to the Taube Tennis Pavilion.
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