New York Shoe Recycling Program Turns Tennies into Tracks
February 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program has been accepting used running shoe donations since January 2006. This shoe recycling program donates used running shoes to the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division.
Tompkins County, in conjunction with Monroe County, participates in Nike’s ReUse A Shoe recycling program. Worn out donated running shoes are then transported to a Nike facility. Once there, the shoe recycling program grinds the donated running shoes into a material that’s called Nike Grind. Nike Grind from donated running shoes is then used to create running tracks, playground surfaces, athletic fields and indoor courts in disadvantaged communities.
If donated running shoes are still in wearable condition, the Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program donates them to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center.
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program accepts donated running shoes at the following locations:
Tompkins County Solid Waste Division
Any scheduled running races sponsored by the Finger Lakes Running Club
Finger Lakes Running Company, 138 West State Street, Ithaca, NY, 14850; You can contact customerservice@fingerlakesrunningcompany.com; or 607.275.3572
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program can only accept athletic shoes. Please note, however, that shoes with cleats, spikes or that contain any metal cannot be accepted. Also, this shoe recycling program is unable to accept any other type of shoe, such as sandals, flip flops, boots, high heels, pumps or dress shoes.
For more information regarding the Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program, contact Diane Yates at dry2@cornell.edu.
Early 2008 New York Races Offer Running Shoe Recycling Opportunities
February 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you’re running any races in New York in 2008, you’ll have the opportunity to donate used running shoes. Specifically, any races sponsored by the Finger Lakes Running Club will provide on-site running shoe recycling. Here’s the Finger Lakes Running Club 2008 race and running shoe recycling event calendar for the first half of the year:
Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.: March Indoor Track Meet and Family Fun Day, Ithaca, NY; various activities; running shoe recycling offered
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.: Ithaca Skunk Cabbage Classic Runs, 10K and half-marathon, Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.: Thom Bugliosi Trail Runs, 13K and 26K, Hammond Hill Hammond Hill State Forest, Dryden, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Sunday, May 18, 8:30 a.m.: Highland Forest 1-2-3; 10- 20- and 30-mile; Highland Forest Park, Fabius, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m.: Rec-Way 10K and Family Fun Runs, Ithaca, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m.: Tortoise and Hare Trail Run, 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY; race and running shoe recycling
June Outdoor Track Meet, 6 p.m.: Date and location to be announced. Varied activities; on-site running shoe recycling
Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.: Tanglefoot Trail Runs, 5- and 10-mile. Tanglewood Nature Center, Elmira, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Please note that the Ithaca Twilight 5K and on-site running shoe recycling event, normally held at Ithaca high school, has been cancelled; no track access is available this year.
Donated used running shoes that are still in wearable condition will be donated to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center for the less fortunate. Donated used running shoes that can no longer be worn will be given to the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division.
Tompkins County, along with nearby Monroe County, donates used running shoes to Nike’s ReUse A Shoe recycling program. With this running shoe recycling program, donated running shoes are shipped to a Nike facility, where they’re ground into a material referred to as Nike Grind. Nike Grind created from donated running shoes is then recycled into new athletic fields, running tracks, playground surfaces and indoor courts in underprivileged communities throughout the U.S.
Please note that the shoe recycling program cannot accept any donated used running shoes with any type of metal; that includes eyelets, zippers, cleats or spikes. Also, this shoe recycling program is unable to accept any other type of shoe, including sandals, flip flops, boots, dress shoes or high heels.
Life is good when you practice the three R’s: running, racing and recycling!
For more information about these upstate New York races with on-site running shoe recycling available, contact Diane Yates at dry2@cornell.edu.
