It can be difficult to part ways with your old running shoes that you’ve depended on for so long. However, if you don’t get rid of them in one way or another, they’ll pile up, taking up much-needed space.
If you don’t want to throw them away, rehoming them or finding a new use for them is the best way to go. This post will walk you through several eco-friendly ways to get rid of your old running shoes and free up some extra space for your new ones:
Don’t just toss out your old athletic shoes; recycle them! Someone else may need them, or you can find your own way to reuse them.
Running Shoe DriveCost: FREE
Eco-Friendliness:
A running shoe drive is a great, eco-friendly way to get rid of old sneakers. It can bring your community together for a good cause, and best of all, it’s easy to set up! If you own a run specialty store or have an organized running group and tons of friends who love to run, this can be an easy way to get them involved, too.
When you partner with an organization like Sneakers4Good, an athletic shoe drive is made easy with just a few simple steps:
Most people have old sneakers lying around that they haven’t worn in months and would be more than willing to give away! Instead of letting them throw out perfectly good running shoes, give them the opportunity to join the sneaker reuse movement.
For more information on repurposing running shoes through a shoe drive, check out our how-to guide!
When you expand your athletic shoe drive efforts to added locations in your area, you can get your entire community involved. That way, you’re making everyone else aware of the potential impact they can make by recycling sneakers. It’s a simple way to get everyone on board with getting rid of old running shoes in an eco-friendly manner!
Running StoresCost: FREE
Eco-Friendliness:
What better place to set up an athletic shoe drive than a running store? If you own a store, set up a collection box to ‘trade in and trade up.’ If you’re a member of a running club or cross-country team, partner with your local athletic and sporting goods retailers who sell running shoes and ask them to help you collect unwanted athletic shoes from their customers.
Chances are, they’ll say yes! In fact, store owners are becoming more aware of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and are always looking for ways to give back. CSR drives business and can have a substantial social and environmental impact on their communities.
Leverage this idea and ask generous retailers to put their efforts into a good cause by setting up donation bins for gently worn, new and used athletic shoes. Runners will love to pass along unwanted sneakers in wearable condition!
Farmers’ MarketsCost: FREE
Eco-Friendliness:
Farmers’ markets are a great place to find environmentally-conscious people who would love to repurpose at a running shoe drive. You can go every weekend, collect athletic shoes, and pass out flyers reminding people to bring their sneakers the next weekend.
Recruit some of your friends to help out. A few can walk the floor while one or two set up stations with collection boxes throughout the market. The entrances and exits are an excellent place to start! Make sure to use eye-catching signs to bring in potential donors.
Public SchoolsCost: FREE
Eco-Friendliness:
Schools are typically eager to help host athletic shoe drives. It teaches kids the value of giving and can help families clear out their unwanted sneakers. Kids quickly grow out of their old clothes and sneakers, so many parents will jump at the chance to recycle sneakers in good condition instead of just tossing them out.
Try making it an annual event! Suggest hosting one every August or September when school starts back for the year. Parents typically buy their kids new sneakers during back-to-school shopping, so offer them the opportunity to get rid of those extra sneakers they don’t need anymore!
Community MealCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Bring your community together by hosting a breakfast or dinner open to all. You can partner with another organization, a school, or a church that lets you host the event on their property. Recruit volunteer chefs and focus on a specific meal. For example, you could host something like:
Coordinate your sneaker drive for this event so that attendees come prepared with their gently worn, new or used running shoes.
Dunk TankCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
At one of your community’s events, line up a dunk tank. While this costs money to do, you can easily earn it back by charging a small fee per throw or set of throws.
Most people will jump at the opportunity to knock their friends and family members into a dunk tank, and the person being dunked won’t mind being dropped into a cool dunk tank on a hot summer day. Advertise ahead of time that you’ll offer a set number of free throws per sneaker pair recycled. That way, people will scour their house for old sneakers and won’t have to remember to bring extra cash.
Block PartyCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
A block party is a great way to get your whole community together! In addition to food, have community members bring their old athletic shoes. Everyone will leverage the opportunity to clear up some space in their homes and dispose of their sneakers in a sustainable way!
Allow community members to purchase tickets that can be redeemed to participate in simple but fun activities, like:
Community members will love getting together to play games and have fun, so take advantage of the opportunity by incorporating an athletic shoe drive into this entertaining event.
Mud RunCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
An epic mud run race is sure to bring your community together to have some good, old-fashioned fun. You can have participants run through a deep mud trench the entire way, and you can toss in a few challenges along the way. Consider some of the following obstacles:
When your participants cross the finish line, have them drop off their unwanted and muddy athletic shoes. Rinse them off and send them to your athletic shoe drive recycling partner!
Obstacle CourseCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Add a twist to your typical 5K or walkathon by incorporating fun obstacles. The extra challenges will keep participants engaged, so try adding the following:
Remind participants to donate their (likely muddy) sneakers at the end of the race! They’ll probably plan on throwing them out once they’re done anyway.
Paint RunCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Add a splash of color to your next 5K with paint! People are sure to wear sneakers that they’re willing to part with but are still in good enough shape to wear to a race. Advertise that you’ll be collecting unwanted gently worn, used and new running shoes after the race.
Make sure to use non-toxic, eco-friendly paint or powdered chalk! That way, you’ll protect the environment while still letting participants have a blast throwing paint at one another.
Snow Cone SocialCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
It can be difficult to get people to participate in a walkathon or 5K during the dog days of summer, but it’s much more enticing if they’re promised snow cones at the finish line. Use biodegradable cups to cut down on waste produced by the event.
You can still have participants pay an entry fee, but have them bring an old pair of running shoes in exchange for a snow cone. You’ll be sure to get a few donations this way, especially on a hot summer day.
Eco-Friendly Costume ContestCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
If Halloween is approaching, host a walkathon where participants come dressed in costumes, specifically eco-friendly costumes! Add a fun incentive by incorporating a contest where people vote for their favorite costume and the best eco-themed costume.
Instead of having people pay an entry fee, have them bring their old sneakers for your athletic shoe drive fundraiser. A Halloween walkathon is an event for the whole family, and you’re sure to see some crazy, creative outfits!
How can you plan a walkathon that serves a good purpose but is still incredibly fun and engaging for your community? Take a look at this guide to find out!
If a community event isn’t feasible for you or if you just want a fun project, there are several creative ways you can reuse your old sneakers. Don’t just toss them out; give them a new purpose!
Donate Your SolesCost: FREE
Eco-Friendliness:
After a lot of wear and tear, athletic shoes get worn down, dirty, and generally become unwearable. Many programs take old footwear and recycle them, so you won’t have to worry about them winding up in a landfill. While some programs take old sneakers and repair them, others reuse the material for new athletic shoes or new clothing items. The great thing about these programs is they even take athletic shoes that have run their last mile.
Alternatively, running shoes still in good condition can be brought into secondhand stores or donated to an athletic shoe drive.
Turn Old Shoes Into PlantersCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Plants will grow in pretty much anything, so try turning your sneakers into a flower pot! All you need for this is some dirt and some seeds (and water and sunlight, of course)!
When turning your athletic shoes into planters, make sure there’s adequate draining by making a few holes in the soles. Adding a layer of rocks at the bottom will add some additional drainage and can add a bit of weight to the sneaker to keep it from blowing over.
Paint ThemCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
If you have sneakers that have run their course but you’re not quite ready to part ways with them just yet, paint them! Choose a picture, grab some eco-friendly paint, and be as creative as you can on your innovative canvas. Typically, this works best with white sneakers but can be done with any solid-colored athletic shoes.
It’s also a great idea for school or local art classes. Ask students to bring in their old sneakers and have them paint a picture of where those running shoes have been. You’ll be surprised at the amount of creativity used and the stories a simple picture can tell!
Make a BirdhouseCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
If you want to give back to the environment in an easy way, try turning your old athletic shoes into a birdhouse! Simply grab your unwanted athletic shoes and nail them to a tree through the heel.
You’ll want to stuff the toe of the shoe with something, so when birds decide to visit, they don’t get stuck. It may take a while, but at some point, you may notice a family of birds inhabiting your old athletic shoe!
Create a Bird FeederCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Speaking of birds, try turning your sneakers into a bird feeder. Either remove the sole from the sneaker and nail it to a tree, or hang it from a limb by its strings. Keep an eye on it, and make sure it stays filled with birdseed.
Your birds will love it, and your neighbors will think you’re incredibly creative! Who knows? You may even inspire them to do the same thing!
Create Stepping StonesCost:
Eco-Friendliness:
Making stepping stones is an environmentally-friendly way to recycle old athletic shoes but may require more than just a few pairs. You’ll need to clean the running shoes well, paint the soles, and stake them into the ground with the soles facing up.
Your garden will have a unique, creative feature, and little kids will be entertained as they hop from sneaker to sneaker!
Looking for more resources to help you decide what to do with old running shoes? Check out some of our guides:
"*" indicates required fields
