Life Cycle of a Basketball
By Fardin Rahman
How It's Made
The outside covering of a basketball is made of synthetic rubber or leather. To get the rubber in order to make the basketball, the bark of rubber trees is cut and the sap is then dripped into the bucket. The bladder, which keeps the air in is made of butyl rubber, which is made of polymer. The carcass is made from the fabrics, nylon, and polyster which come from fiber made out of polyolifins, which are made from petroleum and natural gas.
Use and Longevity
Basketballs are used to play with by several people indoors and outdoors, whether it's a professional league or a kid who plays with it like a recreational game. The average lifespan of a basketball is 4-5 years if used steadily. The grips will eventually wear out and cracks that cause air leaks will occur.
Disposal
Once a basketball wears out and no longer serves its purpose, it can be deflated and recycled because the rubber can be recycled into brand new rubber products. On average, rubber takes 50-80 years to decompose. The nylon fabric found in the bladder can be recycled to make more nylon string or yarn. The bladder cannot be recycled, but can decompose in 30 years.
Conclusion
A basketball is easy to dispose because the rubber material is a renewable source which means it is replaced by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans.