Shoes Recycling Programs

Sure it is nice to go and buy a new pair of sneakers, wear them proudly in the store, walk a little in them to test their features, enjoy the new comfort for your feet, go back home with the brand new shoe box to open like a birthday gift. It is also true though that the sight of the good old pair in the shoe cabinet, and the idea to have to toss them away, is one of the most painful experiences for every runner. It is natural to go back with the memory to the roads shared together, the distances covered, the mud, the rain, the rocky paths, the melting asphalt. You think how faithfully your old pair of shoes have protected your feet, in how many occasions they have been your inseparable friends. It would not be fair just to throw them in the trash bin. Here we are: for those who do believe in the reincarnation of running shoes, we compiled a list of recycling programs around the world. There is a Heaven also for old running shoes.

Up & Running
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)1423 562162
E-mail: enquiries(at)runningshoes.co.uk
Web: http://www.upandrunning.co.uk
Recycled to: Variety Club, 'the greatest children's charity in the world'

Recycled Runners
c/o Cool Running Sports Company
GPO Box 2473
Sydney, New South Wales 2001, Australia
Phone: +61-2-9456-1284
E-mail: kevin(at)recycledrunners.com.au
Web: http://www.recycledrunners.com.au/
Recycled to: needy runners (and others) in the Australia and Pacific region

Reuse-A-Shoe
c/o Nike Recycling Center
26755 South West 95th Street
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
United States of America
Phone: (800) 292-6453, (800) 352-6453, (503) 671-4726
Web: www.nike.com
Recycled to: athletic surfaces (running tracks, etc.)

First Christian Church of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
United States of America
E-mail: fcc(at)csj.net Recycled to: the poor of Haiti

Federacion Departamental de Atletismo Cuzco
Attention: Presidente Edgar Rodriguez
Correo Central
Cuzco
Peru
Recycled to: children of the Cuzco athletic federation

Shoes for Africa
Post Office Box 2223
Boulder, Colorado 80306
United States of America
Phone: (303) 473-1318
Recycled to: African national athletic teams

Helping Hands Shoe Bank
c/o Michael Barringer
Post Office Box 91
Rockwall, Texas 75087
United States of America
Phone: (972) 771-7658
E-mail: michaelbarringer(at)sbcglobal.net
Recycled to: poor in other nations and in the United States of America

Running Wild
1801 2nd Street
Clock Tower Plaza
Coralville, Iowa 52241
United States of America
Phone: (319) 351-3602
Recycled to: youth in needs via the Johnson and Linn County agencies

World Shoe Relief
Post office box 423
Trabuco Canyon, California 92678
United States of America
Recycled to: poor and homeless

Central Florida Gliders Running Shoe Recycle Program
United States of America
E-mail: coachwise(at)hotmail.com
Recycled to: youth runners in Kenya

Oakengates Shoe Banks
Oakengates
United Kingdom
Phone: 01952 202547
E-mail: robin.mager(at)wrekin.gov.uk, help(at)green.oakengates.com
Recycled to: charities

Shoe Recycling Program
Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County
1616 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-1293
Phone: (847) 296-9205
Fax: (847) 296-9207
E-mail: mary(at)swancc.org
Recycled to: athletic surfaces

Centre for Sustainable Living
Manor Trust
Gorsey Lane
Wallasey, CH44 4HF
United Kingdom
Phone: 0151 639 2121
E-mail: wga(at)cesul.org.uk
Recycled to: charities

Shoe Recycle Program
TeamBarrios, LLC.
16199 East 48th Avenue # 2521
Denver, Colorado 80239
United States of America
Recycled to: underprivileged citizens of Mexico

Refuse & Recycling Services
Jewish Community Center
655 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, California
United States of America
Phone: 496-5910
E-mail: recycling(at)city.palo-alto.ca.us
Recycled to: playground surfaces and sports courts