Your Old Running Shoes are Recyclable!

Several years ago I learned that Nike recycles running shoes, and uses the recycled parts to construct inner city basketball courts. I dug up the info about how to donate shoes, and recycled my first pair of running shoes in 2005. It felt really good.



I just stumbled upon some current information about Nike's program, Reuse-A-Shoe.


Regarding "giving back" to the community - according to this 1995 article, Nike unveiled the Reuse-A-Shoe program in 1993.

In 1995 Nike covered 60 decaying school playgrounds in Oakland, California with protective Reuse-A-Shoe rubber matting. In 1994 the program used 4,000 shoes to build a bright blue all-purpose basketball court at Boys & Girls Club in Brooklyn, New York.

Nike works with the amazing organization Ashoka, and their Changemaker program. The Changemaker website currently spotlights Jacob Colker, the co-founder and CEO of the Extraordinaries. (I just blogged about the company last week!)


How to Participate:

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe drop-off locations exist @ 300+ locations around the world, including all U.S. Nike stores, as well as locations in Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Check here for a list of locations near your zip code or state of residence.

You can bring up to 10 pair of athletic shoes at a time to any of the drop-off locations. If you have more than 10 pairs of shoes to donate, but less than 300, then you can apply to Nike's Community Activist program to host a shoe recycling drive!

If you can't find a location near you then you can pack your old shoes up in a box and mail them to Nike at your own expense:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Note that in order to keep the recycling shoe machines in good working order:

* Nike can only recycle athletic shoes (running shoes, sneakers, etc.)
* Nike accepts all brands of shoes
* Nike cannot accept shoes containing metal
* Nike cannot accept cleats or dress shoes
* Nike cannot accept wet or damp shoes
* Nike cannot accept sandals and flip-flops


If you'd rather give your shoes away in one piece, then check this out:

One World Running accepts donations of nearly new and new running shoes, which they distribute around the world to aspiring runners here in the USA, and in countries where many people train barefoot for lack of resources. The organization also organizes races in developing countries.


photo: Cuba 2009. From Flickr user One World Running

The organization, originally called Shoes for Africa, was founded in 1986 by Michael Sandrock, an award-winning sports journalist, after he raced a marathon in Cameroon.

List of shoe donation drop off locations here.

If the shoes you donate do not suit the organization's needs then they will send them off to Nike for recycling. And we come full circle:)