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.
