There are plenty of reasons to recycle your old shoes and runners. It keeps the waste out of landfills and supports the circular economy by reusing valuable materials. In addition, you can also help support those in need across the globe. Many organizations take your old shoes and use those resources to help communities in need.
One example is Soles-4-Souls, who are changing lives, not only by providing footwear but by creating job opportunities for disadvantaged people.
There’s also WaterStep, who use shoe donations to fund safe drinking projects.
Or Shoes for Planet Earth, collecting shoe donations and passing them onto homeless shelters, youth and female crisis centers, indigenous communities, and other groups.
But what if your old shoes are worn out and unlikely to be of use to anyone? Don’t fret! They can still be recycled and made into something new.
Some groups accept them in this condition, e.g., Nike is leading the way with its Reuse-A-Shoe program. They recycle sports shoes and sneakers and use the materials to build sports surfaces around the world.
Planet Aid will also accept shoes in any condition and recycle any which cannot be used.
Read on to learn more about what to do with old shoes and how to help out!
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The Problem
- In 2015, over 20 billion pairs of shoes were produced worldwide.
- Almost half of the footwear exported worldwide is made from rubber or plastic.
- In 2018 an average of 5.6 pairs of shoes were purchased by individuals in North America.
- It can take up to 1000 years for shoes to decompose fully.
- Each year Australians buy more than 25 million pairs of new sports shoes. Less than 2% of these are ever recycled.
However, as you’ve already read in our overview, reusing and recycling shoes is possible. Read on and see our exclusive list so you can find a location to drop off shoes you want to donate.
What Are Shoes Made From
Shoes are made from a lot of different types of materials, including many types of plastics. They mainly use:
- leather
- natural fibers like cotton and wool
- synthetic textiles like polyester and nylon
- rubber
- foam plastics
There are two main parts of a shoe, the upper and the sole. The upper is the top of the shoe that holds your foot. It’s usually made from fabric or leather but can also be a mix of materials. E.g., athletic runners typically have many different parts and types of materials for the uppers of their shoes.
The sole is the bottom of the shoe. It’s often made from rubber or plastics like polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The sole of a shoe can also be complex, with different plastics and rubber used in shoes like sneakers.
There is a lot more to a shoe than this simple overview, so if you want to find out more, head over to The Anatomy of an Athletic Shoe.
Why Recycle Old Shoes
A better question is, why would you not recycle your old shoes? If there are people out there ready to take them from you, why would you toss them out? They can be given to someone who needs them or made into something of value again. It’s a win/win!
The bonus is it reduces our overall waste and keeps it out of landfill. Good for the planet, good for the next person using the shoes or the materials, and good for you.
How to Recycle Your Old Shoes
Let’s start with some immediate options.
First, your old shoes mustn’t go in your curbside bin. The curbside recycling program is for paper, glass, metal, and rigid plastic in most places.
So, what to do with your old shoes? There are two main options available:
- Donate them
- Recycle them
If you plan to donate them to a local charity, be sure to check the condition. Most charity stores only want gently loved items so others can reuse them.
If your old shoes or sneakers have holes in the sole, no tread left, or have seen better days, definitely consider one of the other recycling options. Otherwise, they might end up in a landfill.
When donating your shoes, be sure and check they are clean. Tie both shoes together, so they don’t get separated. After all – there’s no point in donating, only to have them get separated on the way to their new home.
What to Do With Old Shoes
Below, we provide some great options on what to do with the older shoes in your life. Please be sure to check the rules for the program you choose – e.g., some might only take your old running shoes, while others will recycle all types.
If you don’t find a shoe recycling program near you on this list, definitely look on places like Yelp or Google to check your local area.
United States
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe – Started in the early 1990s, the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program is now a global program collecting end of life runners and sneakers. The materials from recycled sneakers are used in sports surfaces around the world. So far, 32 million sneakers have been recycled.
You can drop your old sports shoes at one of their Reuse-A-Shoe bins. They’ll accept any brand of sports shoes. Check out the list of locations on the Nike site.
One World Running – is an international program that promotes awareness of health, fitness, and nutrition by providing running shoes to those in need. New or near-new shoes are sent overseas, while those more beaten up are sent to Nike to be ground up and made into running tracks and playgrounds through their Reuse-A-Shoe program. Learn about their program here.
Soles 4 Souls – new or gently loved shoes to help save the planet and change someone’s life by creating job opportunities. Find a drop-off location, or you can ship them for free with Zappos for Good. Check out their website.
Crocs have partnered with thredUP to give your old crocs a new life with someone else. You can even earn Crocs shopping credits. Check out the site for the shipping address and to get a free label.
WaterStep – Donate your gently loved shoes, and they’ll be sold to exporters. The money made is then used to help save hundreds of lives by funding safe drinking water projects worldwide. Check the availability of drop-off centers as they may not be available across the US. Recycle old shoes here.
Planet Aid – Can help you figure out what to do with old shoes in any condition along with old clothes. They sort all donated clothes for you. Those in good condition are reused, and those that are not, are recycled. You can find drop-off locations here.
Share Your Soles – Based in Chicago, this group’s mission is to provide gently worn or new shoes to those in greatest need around the world. They’re only interested in shoes in new or good condition, and all types will of shoes are accepted, from athletic shoes to sandals or work shoes. Recycle old shoes here.
Pick-up Please – With a pick-up service available, Pick-up Please support the lives of America’s Veterans and their families. They accept shoes, among many other things. Find them here.
Dress for Success – Help’s provide wardrobe and support services for women in need, to help them gain self-confidence and self-esteem while they seek work. They accept shoes suitable for work environments and in good condition. They don’t accept sportswear, so this isn’t the place for old sneakers. Find more about them here.
Canada
Shoe Bank Canada – Many retailers support this program, and you can donate to any of them. Check the locator here.
United Kingdom and Europe
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe – Nike’s recycle sneakers program is also available in Italy and Spain. You can drop your old sports shoes at one of their bins. They accept any brand of sports shoes.
From the UK, you can access the program through the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe with drop-off points in London and Glasgow. Here is a list of locations.
Marks and Spencer – if you want to recycle old shoes, you can also do so with Marks & Spencer’s through their Shwop program, which allows you to donate old clothes and shoes. Your Shwopped items are resold, reused, or recycled and allow Oxfam to fund all sorts of vital projects around the world. Find the link here.
Recycling Centers – most recycling centers in the UK will accept shoes.
Australia and New Zealand
Shoes for Planet Earth – If you have shoes in reasonable shape – clean, no holes, and the soles are in good condition. You can donate them to Shoes for the Planet. Find a drop-off location here.
Rebel Sports Stores has partnered with the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program – check with your local store before you head down (call 1300 654 502).
The Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) has partnered with Save our Souls to run a pilot sports shoe recycling program. It’s currently only in Victoria. They recycle our old worn-out sneakers into playground and sporting surfaces, gym mats, and retail flooring.
Recycling bins are available in Rebel, JD Sports, SportsPower, and Myer plus Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Converse, GloBe, and ASICS. To find out what to do with your old runners, check out their locator.
Upparel (formally Manrags) – If your shoes have seen better days, then try Upparel. They accept any quality shoes, but only in pairs. AND! If you organize a pick-up, you can donate up to 10kg of clothing and get a discount on some eco-friendly socks too. You can book to have your clothes and old shoes picked up here.
Bared Footwear in Victoria takes your old pre-loved shoes. They accept any brand, and you can even post them into them. Find the details here.
Dress for Success – Provides dressing and support services for women in need to help them gain self-confidence and self-esteem while seeking work. They accept shoes suitable for work environments and in good condition. They don’t accept sportswear, so this is not one for your old sneakers. Find them here.
Total Workwear – Recycle boots from Aussie Tradies. The only catch is you have to buy a new pair from them. Find their details here.
Set Up Your Own Donation Bin
If you are a business, you can contact any of the above companies and discuss having a box featured in your business. TerraCycle is another place you can talk to, they have zero waste boxes for collections.
What Else Can You Do?
One of the best things you can do is look after what you already own. Look after the shoes and sneakers you already have and make them last as long as possible. This also helps reduce the overall output in the world.
There are many ways you can make sure your old running shoes or boots get as much life as possible, including:
- Clean them regularly. It’s good to keep the dirt off them to keep them looking good. Dirt and grime can also degrade the materials if left.
- If you have leather, use a soft brush to remove dirt and grime, and regularly use a leather moisturizer.
- If the stitching is coming loose, resew it or take it to a repair shop. They can even fix the sole if it needs gluing.
- One lesson I learned with my last pair of sneakers is to take the time to undo the laces when you are putting them on or taking them off. I was a bit lazy and would just pull my shoes off. Now, unfortunately, the back is damaged.
- If your shoes are not as comfortable, why not use an insole? You can even buy recycled insoles from OrthoLite®. You should be able to get them through many sports stores or chemists.
There are many other ways you can spruce up an old pair of shoes. You can paint them with fabric paint, dye them, sew patches on them, or even get a new sole put on them. Whichever way you do it, try and give your favorite shoes the longest life you can by looking after them.
Need to Buy Shoes? Why Not Buy Shoes Made from Recycled Plastic
Want to find more recycled shoe brands, check out these articles:
Cariuma
Cariuma sneakers are made using recycled PET combined with natural materials like bamboo, organic cotton, rubber, sugarcane, cork, and mamona oil.
The majority of their laces, upper, labels, and threads use recycled PET made from plastic bottles certified by the Global Recycled Standard. Many of their shoes are 100% vegan.
As a company, Cariuma is transparent, dedicated to looking after its workers, and regularly strives to improve its processes. Plus, they give back where they can by donating sneakers to Soles4Souls and getting their hands dirty cleaning up their local beach.
Their range includes low cut and high cut sneakers in many bright colors. We particularly like the Pantone colors.
Timberland
With innovation at the forefront, Timberland has been developing and using more sustainable materials in its shoes. In fact, it was way back in 2009 when they started using recycled plastic bottles in their footwear, way before it became trendy. Then in 2018, they created their own material made from recycled plastic called ReBotlTM.
Timberland’s shoes come in many shapes and sizes, but my favorites are their boots.
Thousand Fell
Creating comfortable sneakers with circular economy principles in mind, Thousand Fell is on a mission to empower you to step up and help build a better future. Their shoes incorporate natural & recycled rubber, recycled water bottles, coconut husks, and sugar cane and palm leaf fibers.
They use insoles made from recycled rubber yoga mats giving you plenty of cushioning on your busy days. Check out their slip-on’s for a more relaxed lifestyle.
Rothy’s
Rothy’s shoes are made from a blend of marine plastic and their signature thread, spun from single-use plastic water bottles. Their shoes and handbags are elegant while keeping quality and longevity in mind. The best part about these shoes is you can machine wash them.
Indosole
Indosole re-purpose old tires into recycled shoes. This idea came from the Indonesian People, who are good at turning trash into something practical and valuable. Indosole built on these local skills and developed the scale and technology required to bring their recycled tire shoes to the world.
Each shoe is handmade by the team, carefully created to their high standards.
Want to see more recycled shoes check out our post Stylish Shoes Made from Recycled Plastic.
The Wrap Up
In 2018, SOEX (working with various partners) built the world’s first shoe recycling plant in Germany. The plant made it possible to mechanically disassemble all shoe types into their components, creating useful secondary raw materials that can be used to make new products.
This is a significant step forward, but there is still a long way to go for shoe recycling. The best answer is to reduce first, reuse second and then recycle.
What can you do? Firstly, buy fewer shoes. Take a look in the depths of your cupboard and see if you really need a new pair. Look after the ones you have. Check out our tips above for taking better care of your shoes.
If you need to buy a new pair, then visit your local charity shop. You might be surprised by what you find. Buy recycled shoes or buy ones that are simple in design, have natural materials, and are built to last.
I hope our tips have helped you and your shoes have a long, meaningful relationship. Finally, be sure to recycle your old shoes. You can use our links above if you want to know what to do with old shoes.
- 2020, The Anatomy of an Athletic Shoe, verywellfit.com
- Alejandra Borunda, 2019, Your shoes are made of plastic. Here’s why., nationalgeographic.com
- 2017, Top 5 Most Common Materials Used to Make Shoes, Kicksguide.com
- SOEX Main Website
- Australian Sporting Goods Association and Save Our Soles SOS Initiative
