3 million pairs of shoes get thrown away each year. People toss shoes that are too small, worn out, or simply unwanted. This translates to a huge environmental impact as shoes continue to enter landfills and fail to degrade for an incredibly long time.
Instead of throwing out your shoes, take a more sustainable approach by recycling them. Bring new life to your shoes by passing them along to someone in need or reusing them creatively. This guide will cover some of the ways you can recycle old shoes. We’ll discuss the following points:
- Should you throw old shoes away?
- Donate your gently worn, used and new shoes.
- What are other ways to use old shoes?
With the strain on our environment growing yearly, adopting sustainable practices into your lifestyle is essential. Combat the impact of fast fashion and clothing waste by learning more about how you can extend the life of your old shoes. Let’s jump in!
Should you throw old shoes away?
So, should you throw away those old shoes in the back of your closet? The short answer is no.
Recycling and finding new life for your old shoes is a great way to extend the life of worn-out footwear. Most shoes can be recycled or reused. The best solution? To give new life to your shoes, provide footwear to someone who needs it, and support microenterprises in developing countries. You can also think up new ways to use your shoes, like turning them into planters, birdhouses, or pincushions. Let’s discuss some of the best ways to reuse your old shoes.
Donate your gently worn, used and new shoes.
One of the easiest sustainable ways to part with your old shoes is to donate them.
Not only does donating old shoes give them a new life, but it can also help bring resources to people and nonprofits in need. Support nonprofit fundraising shoe drives by donating your gently worn, used and new shoes to them. It’s a simple way to contribute to a nonprofit without digging into your wallet while keeping your shoes out of landfills.
Nonprofit shoe drive fundraisers make for a seamless donation process. Here is a quick overview of how these fundraisers work:
- The organization signs up with a social enterprise like Funds2Orgs. These services make it easy for nonprofits to launch shoe drive fundraisers. Nonprofits also gain access to a wealth of information about fundraising, social media post templates, a dedicated team of coaches, and more.
- The organization markets the shoe drive to its supporters. Next, the organization needs to attract donors to the fundraising event. Digital marketing and email promotions effectively reach both existing and potential donors.
- Supporters donate their shoes at dedicated shoe drop-off locations. A shoe drive fundraiser wouldn’t be complete without donations. Drop-off locations make it convenient for supporters to donate, creating a positive donor experience.
- Funds2Orgs picks up the shoes. After receiving donations, Funds2Orgs handles donation collection, taking the pressure off of the nonprofit to drive and deliver the shoes to a dedicated place. Then, the social enterprise provides a check to the nonprofit for its fundraising efforts.
- Shoes and “micro-enterprises.” So, where do donations go? Once donations get sorted, Funds2Orgs ships them to micro-enterprises, small family businesses operated by one or two people. Your shoes go on to support these small businesses and the economies of developing countries.
After you donate, your shoes have the potential to make a huge impact. Not only are you benefitting a nonprofit by helping them raise funds, but you’re also supporting micro-enterprises in developing nations and keeping your shoes out of a landfill.
What are other ways to use old shoes?
While donating your old shoes is our favorite idea, it isn’t the only way you can recycle worn footwear. If your shoes aren’t gently worn, used or new, or you don’t have access to a nonprofit holding a shoe drive fundraiser, there are plenty of creative ways to keep your shoes out of the trash. Here are some other creative ideas you can consider.
Make a planter out of your old shoes.
One sustainable solution for your old shoes is to turn them into planters. Turning your old shoes into homes for herbs, succulents, and other plants is a great way to reuse them in an environmentally-friendly way.
Repurposing your old shoes keeps them out of landfills which is a win for sustainability. But, this tip provides even more environmental benefits. Home gardening can mitigate the impact of global warming, enrich the soil, and reduce the size of landfills by limiting yard waste.
Turn baby shoes into pin cushions.
Baby shoes are a source of clutter in many households. Because parents receive so many tiny shoes their children grow out of quickly, it’s easy to accumulate many outgrown shoes. Getting rid of sentimental items like baby shoes can be hard, but tips like these help you give them new life.
For avid crafters, old shoes can add to your collection of tools and materials. Small shoes are the perfect size to hold homemade and store-bought pin cushions. You can follow instructions to make DIY pin cushion or shop for one that fits inside worn tiny shoes.
Build shoe birdhouses for your yard.
Support local wildlife by giving them a place to live—in your old shoes. This idea is simple and easy, and you won’t need to put in much additional effort or material.
First, choose a shoe large enough for a bird nest—kids’ shoes aren’t ideal here, but an old pair of boots are likely the perfect size. Next, nail the shoe to a tree in an area populated with many birds. Then, be on the lookout for new tenants in your homemade birdhouse!
Use high heels as a DIY coat rack.
For fashionistas, incorporating old shoes into home decor is a great way to save money and display your love for fashion. A practical way to use old shoes in your home is to create a DIY coat rack.
Select as many high heels as you’d like for this project. Attach the shoes to a wood plank, creating hooks with the heel. You can use the heels to hang up coats, keychains, and purses.
Practice your painting skills.
If you are artistically inclined, this is the perfect way to transform your shoes. Whether they’re white shoes with some dirt stains or you simply aren’t in love with the color, this is a great sustainable solution. Adding your artistic touch to your footwear might transform them into shoes you’ll wear daily.
Try painting new colors and designs on your old Vans, Converse, and tennis shoes. This allows you to experiment with painting on different textures and surfaces, and you may even like the final product more than the original shoe. If transforming shoes with your painting skills is something you enjoy, it could be an opportunity to create your own social enterprise.
Social enterprises are for-profit organizations looking to impact long-running social challenges. Environmentally-friendly products are in high demand, particularly from social enterprises dedicated to measuring their impact on environmental issues. Refurbishing old shoes and turning them into artistic masterpieces is a great way to make a profit and implement social change simultaneously.
Donate shoes to a thrift store.
Donating your old shoes to a thrift store can give them a second chance. If you have shoes you outgrew, don’t wear, or simply don’t want, put them in your donate pile rather than the dumpster. Remember that most thrift stores prefer gently used items, so only donate your shoes if they are still in good condition.
Check to see if your local recycling center takes shoes.
Some recycling centers are starting to receive shoes in their facilities. Before you head to the recycling center with your cans and bottles, check what types of material they accept. Most recycling centers feature this information on their websites, but you can also call or check any available printed materials.
If you don’t have access to a recycling center that accepts shoes, look into companies that offer recycling services. These companies make it easy for you to recycle your shoes—and many other things—by mailing them or taking them to a drop-off location. Remember that nonprofits may also take these shoes off your hand as a part of a shoe drive fundraiser! Look for both companies and nonprofits who might be able to take these shoes off your hands.
Dye your scuffed-up shoes.
Give your worn-out shoes a refresh by dyeing them. This fun DIY project conceals scuff marks, hiding some of the wear and tear on your shoes. Once you finish, you’ll have refreshed shoes in a brand-new color.
Turn shoes into a dog toy.
If you’re a dog owner, your pet might already have an affinity for your shoes. However, turning your old, unwanted shoes into toys can turn those off-limit items into sources of fun. While your dog might love the shoes as-is, tying the shoe to the end of a rope creates more diversity during playtime.
Wrapping Up
Whether you are donating or DIY-ing, there are plenty of ways to give your shoes a new life and keep them out of landfills.
Shoe drive fundraisers are one of the best ways to sustainably dispose of your shoes while giving back to nonprofits and people in need. Look for shoe drive fundraisers in your area or implement them for your nonprofit organization. Funds2Orgs helps organizations raise money while giving your old shoes to those in need.
The post What to Do With Old Shoes: Recycling Your Footwear for Good appeared first on funds2orgs.com.
