Ecore program recycles outdoor track material at Louisiana school

Approximately 30,000 pounds of used track material were reclaimed and shipped to Ecore’s York, Pennsylvania, facility for processing.

reclaimed rubber unloaded from trailer

Photo courtesy of Ecore

St. Scholastica Academy, a private all-girls school in Covington, Louisiana, has partnered with Ecore for its outdoor running track renovation. The project will use Ecore’s TRUcircularity program, designed to divert rubber flooring, turf and track systems, to reclaim and recycle a portion of the existing track material.

For St. Scholastica Academy, the opportunity to participate in the TRUcircularity program came through an established partnership between Ecore and a trusted regional athletic track contractor. When the school’s running track reached the end of its life, the contractor coordinated with Ecore to reclaim a portion of the existing surface.

Approximately 30,000 pounds of used track material were reclaimed and shipped to Ecore’s York, Pennsylvania, facility for processing. The project provided a valuable opportunity to refine and advance Ecore’s processes for outdoor track reclamation, helping to establish a scalable model for future initiatives, according to the company.

“When we learned the old track material would be recycled instead of sent to a landfill, it really resonated with our values as a school,” says Sister Mary Elizabeth, principal of St. Scholastica Academy. “We’re proud to have contributed to a sustainable solution and to provide our students with a beautiful new track that supports both their performance and the planet.” 

Ecore says its TRUcircularity program is grounded in three principles: responsible recovery, efficient processing and purposeful reuse. The process begins when an existing athletic surface is scheduled for removal. Working with facility owners, contractors and installation partners, Ecore coordinates the takeback of eligible material, which is shipped to one of the company’s recycling and manufacturing facilities.  

There, materials are cleaned, ground down and reprocessed using proprietary technologies that transform them into new raw materials used in the production of Ecore’s performance surfacing products. These products are engineered to provide advanced ergonomics, impact absorption, slip resistance, sound control and durability, with performance characteristics tailored to the specific needs of athletic, wellness and commercial environments. 

“TRUcircularity allows us to take real ownership over the full lifecycle of our products,” says Steve Hayes, vice president of strategic partnerships at Ecore. “Instead of sending used surfacing to a landfill, we’re giving it a second life—reducing waste and conserving natural resources while continuing to deliver high-performance flooring solutions.” 

Ecore reclaims and transforms more than 430 million pounds of rubber waste annually, turning what was once destined for a landfill into high-performance surfaces used in sports, fitness, wellness and commercial environments.