A Green Basketball Court: Sport, Community, and Recycling in Action
A green basketball court: sport, community, and recycling in action
In the town of Despeñaderos, Córdoba, Club Juventud Alianza has made significant progress both in sports and environmental sustainability. Thanks to an innovative recycling project, the club has built its new basketball court floor using only plastic soda caps. This ambitious initiative, a regional first, reflects the power of community collaboration and commitment to the environment.
The initiative was made possible with support from the Municipality of Despeñaderos and financial backing from Bloomberg Philanthropies, an international organization promoting solutions to climate change challenges. The project was developed within the framework of the Youth and Climate Action Fund Program, a platform promoting sustainable ideas led by young people.
The birth of a sustainable idea
The inspiration for this initiative came in 2024, when U13 and U15 players from Club Juventud Alianza learned about the case of Asociación Deportiva Atenas, which had installed a sports floor made of recycled plastic. This example motivated the young athletes to envision their own project, adapted to local possibilities but with an ambitious goal: to build an eco-friendly floor for their basketball court.
According to the club president, Matías Tabares, the proposal sought not only to improve sports facilities but also “to promote circular economy and environmental awareness throughout the community.”
Community collection: a real team effort
One of the greatest challenges was gathering enough caps to produce the floor. Each square meter required approximately 3.5 kilograms of caps, and nearly two tons were needed to cover the entire court. This challenge became a collective project involving neighbors, schools, businesses, and other institutions.
“We organized a massive campaign in Despeñaderos and nearby towns. The kids, their families, and many volunteers joined without hesitation,” explained Tabares. Additionally, the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the National University of Córdoba joined the cause, donating two bags full of sorted caps.
The collection process did not stop at accumulating materials: caps were sorted by color at collection points throughout the city. This sorting facilitated the industrial process and strengthened participants’ sense of belonging to the project.
From caps to tiles: the transformation process
With the collected materials, the next step was producing the new floor. The club hired PLC Solutions, the same company that had previously worked with Club Atenas. After several technical meetings, it was confirmed that the caps could be used as raw material to manufacture interlocking tiles, durable modular pieces that are easy to install.
The process was funded with a contribution of $5,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies, covering processing and transport costs.
The tiles were manufactured in Córdoba city and later sent to Despeñaderos, where only the final assembly remains to complete the new green court.
A special inauguration with star guests
The official inauguration is scheduled to take place between April 21 and 25, with the exact date to be confirmed. The event will feature a special guest: former basketball player and current Secretary of Sports of Córdoba, Pichi Campana, supporting this exemplary initiative that combines sports, youth, and sustainability.
This project represents not only an achievement for Club Juventud Alianza but also a replicable model for other sports institutions seeking sustainable solutions with social and environmental impact. The cap court is more than a space to play: it is a symbol of the transformative power of community when united for a common cause.
