Post from the past: Nike's Group Shoe Recycling program.

Originally posted on the Green and Clean Mom Forum

The first post I wrote for the Green and Clean Mom forum was about the show recycling program that I started at my son’s school. I placed boxes throughout the school, sent out notices, and watched the athletic shoes pile up.

Every couple of months I lug a few garbage bags full of old tennis shoes to the local Nike outlet store and deposit them in the shoe recycling bin. This program has taken a little work on my part but to me, it has be well worth it.

Now Nike has made this type of small scale shoe recycling easier through their Group Shoe Recycling program. “Not afraid to get your hands dirty? If you're part of a group such as a school, university group or non-profit organization, you could collect worn-out athletic shoes for your own Reuse-A-Shoe drive – just fill out the form to the right and we'll get in touch.”

Currently Nike is accepting applications for groups (within the United States) interested in collecting up to 100 pairs of shoes.

If your application is accepted, Nike will send you a Shoe Drive Kit that includes items such as a collapsible bin and marketing materials like stickers, posters to help promote your drive. The best part of the Group Shoe Recycling program…..Nike will pick the shoes up for you and transport them to a recycling facility!

Easy Peasy!

According to Nike, the Reuse-A-Shoe program has recycled more than 22 million pairs of shoes collecting one and a half million pairs of shoes per year globally. That is a whole lot of Nike Grind.
With the end of the school year fast approaching (and many well worn tennis shoes waiting to be replaced by sandals) now would be a great time to start a shoe recycling program at your school!