How to Recycle Athletic Shoes

If you're a fitness fanatic, you probably go through a lot of athletic shoes in one year. The general guideline is to replace your athletic shoes every six months. But, even if you've worn your shoes into the ground, they could still have some life in them. So, instead of just tossing them in the trash can, check out the following recycling options.

Things You'll Need

• Used sneakers

Instructions

1. Donate them to a clothing drive. As obvious as this is, it might be easy to overlook. Just because you can't run marathons in your shoes anymore doesn't mean someone can't get some use out of them.

2. Donate them to a shelter or detention center. Sometimes, people in detention centers come in with inappropriate shoes. After six months, your athletic shoes might not be good for your workouts anymore, but they are still perfectly usable for people in this situation.

3. Turn your shoes into a basketball court. Well, not you yourself. The Nike Shoe Company collects old athletic shoes of any brand for their Reuse-a-Shoe program. These shoes are then broken down into fabric, foam and rubber. These broken-down products are then used to make a number of sports-related products including golf item, running tracks, basketball courts, and padding under hardwood basketball floors.

Tips & Warnings

• Only shoes without metal parts can be recycled. So shoes with cleats, spikes or even lights cannot be recycled.

• A number of colleges participate in the Reuse-a-Shoe program and have drop-off bins on campus.

• You can check Nike's website for information about drop-off sites. If you are taking your shoes to a retail location, be sure to check and see if they have a limit.

• If you can't find a Reuse-a-Shoe drop-off site in your area, you can mail an unlimited number of shoes directly to Nike.