How to Recycle Old Shoes Responsibly: Eco-Friendly Disposal Guide

Every pair of shoes has a life span—but what happens when their journey ends? Tossing them in the trash might feel like the only option, especially if they’re too worn out to wear. But here’s the truth: most old shoes still have value, whether through donation, recycling, or creative reuse.

This guide is designed to help you explore practical and eco-friendly ways on How To Recycle Old Shoes Responsibly, based on research, experience, and real-world solutions that are working for people right now. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Even small actions, like choosing to recycle one old pair instead of throwing it away, can make a real difference.

Why Recycling Old Shoes Matters

When we think about environmental waste, shoes aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But they should be.

A Closer Look at the Impact

Most shoes are made from a complex mix of synthetic rubber, plastic, adhesives, leather, and foam—materials that take decades to break down in landfills. A single pair of sneakers can take anywhere from 30 to 50 years to decompose, and even then, they may leave behind microplastics and harmful chemicals.

Multiply that by billions of shoes discarded each year, and the problem becomes clear.

• In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that over 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away annually.
• Many of these could have been donated, recycled, or repurposed.

And it’s not just about landfill space—manufacturing new shoes also consumes natural resources and generates emissions. By choosing to recycle or reuse what we already have, we’re reducing demand for raw materials and helping to shrink our carbon footprint.

Donate Shoes in Good Condition

Before anything else, stop and ask: Are these shoes still wearable? If the soles are intact, there are no holes, and the overall shape is preserved, donation should be your first option.

Why Donation Makes Sense

There are many people—locally and globally—who would gladly wear what we consider “old.” For someone facing financial hardship or living in a disaster-affected area, even a worn but functional pair of shoes can mean a safer, more comfortable life.

Where to Donate Your Shoes

• Local shelters and outreach centers often accept gently used shoes to help the homeless or low-income families. Women’s shelters especially appreciate comfortable flats and practical footwear.
• Thrift stores like Goodwill and The Salvation Army turn your donated shoes into low-cost options for others, while funding job training and community programs.
• Specialized programs like Soles4Souls distribute shoes to developing countries where even basic footwear is hard to come by.

Real-life example:

A reader once shared how she collected her family’s old sneakers and dropped them off at a local charity run by her child’s school. The shoes were cleaned and sent to a refugee camp overseas. Something that had been sitting unused in her closet became life-changing for someone else.

Donation Tips:

• Wipe the shoes down or give them a light wash—presentation matters.
• Tie the laces together or place shoes in a reusable bag.
• Avoid donating shoes with holes in the sole, broken straps, or extreme wear.

When in doubt, call the organization and ask if your shoes meet their donation standards.

Recycle Worn-Out or Unwearable Shoes

Sometimes, shoes are simply beyond saving. The tread is bald, the structure is warped, or they’ve absorbed years of wear and tear. In these cases, recycling is the most sustainable path forward.

Why Regular Trash Isn’t the Answer

Throwing old shoes in the garbage means they’ll end up in a landfill, where synthetic materials can persist for decades. Worse, some adhesives and foam soles release methane—a potent greenhouse gas—as they break down.

Instead of contributing to that cycle, consider one of the following shoe recycling options.

Reliable Shoe Recycling Programs

• Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program: This long-standing program takes any brand of athletic shoes (not sandals or dress shoes) and turns them into a material called Nike Grind, which is used in basketball courts, playgrounds, and running tracks.
• TerraCycle Zero Waste Box: For shoes that can’t be donated or reused, TerraCycle provides a paid option to ship your footwear to a facility that breaks them down responsibly. While this service isn’t free, it’s ideal for families or groups who want to recycle multiple pairs at once.
• Retailer Take-Back Programs: Brands like Adidas, Asics, Allbirds, and The North Face offer take-back or recycling services either by mail or in-store. Some even offer discounts or loyalty points in return, creating a win-win.

Quick Tip:

Always check brand websites or call ahead to see what types of shoes they accept. Some programs only take athletic shoes, while others include casual or dress shoes.

In the next section, we’ll go deeper into how you can get creative and repurpose shoes at home, especially if you’re the DIY type or want to avoid the hassle of shipping.

Upcycle or Repurpose Shoes at Home

Not every old pair of shoes needs to be recycled or donated. Sometimes, with a little creativity, you can give them a second life right at home. This is where upcycling shines—transforming your worn footwear into something entirely new, useful, or even artistic.

What Is Upcycling?

Upcycling means reusing materials in a way that adds value, as opposed to just breaking them down like in traditional recycling. With shoes, that could mean turning an old boot into a flower planter, or repurposing sneakers into home décor or craft supplies.

It’s a fun, eco-conscious way to reduce waste and personalize your space—no need for expensive tools or expert skills.

Creative Ways to Upcycle Old Shoes

Here are some practical, real-world examples of how people have repurposed their old shoes:

🌱 1. Shoe Planters for Your Garden or Balcony

Old boots, especially those with worn soles or cracks, make surprisingly charming plant holders. Just add soil, succulents, or small herbs and place them on your porch, windowsill, or garden path.

Bonus: If they already have holes, no need to worry about drainage!

Example: A woman in Portland created an entire herb garden out of her kids’ outgrown rain boots. Each boot housed a different herb—mint, thyme, basil—and added color and character to her patio.

🧰 2. Organizers or Storage Hacks

Hard-soled shoes like heels or leather shoes can be used as quirky desk organizers or holders for pens, brushes, or makeup.

You can also use the soles or insoles of athletic shoes as knee pads when gardening or fixing things around the house.

🎨 3. DIY Crafts and Home Decor

Get crafty by painting, bedazzling, or cutting apart old shoes for use in art projects, school displays, or costume design.

Ideas include:

• Making a funky key holder out of a stylish old heel
• Creating a sculpture or statement piece for an art installation
• Using sneaker fabric as patches for denim jackets or bags

Why Upcycling Is Worth Considering

• It’s budget-friendly – You already have the materials.
• It’s sustainable – You’re extending the life of something that would otherwise be waste.
• It’s personal – You get to keep the sentimental value of a beloved pair while giving it a fresh purpose.

You don’t have to be an artist or DIY guru to get started. Even something as simple as turning old shoes into planters or using the parts for small repairs can make a difference.

📌 Tip: Search Pinterest or YouTube for “shoe upcycle ideas” to spark inspiration. You’ll be amazed at what people have come up with.

Check Local Recycling Centers or Textile Programs

If donation and upcycling aren’t the right fit, your local recycling center might offer a straightforward solution. Many cities now include textiles—like old clothes and shoes—in their recycling efforts. It’s a lesser-known but incredibly useful option.

What to Look For

• Municipal textile recycling: Many communities offer drop-off points at landfills, libraries, or community centers where shoes can be recycled along with clothes and linens.
• Special recycling events: Earth Day and back-to-school seasons often bring community collection events for clothing and footwear.
• Drop-off bins: Retailers like H&M and Zara occasionally provide bins for textile recycling, which may include footwear depending on the location.

Real Example: A man in Toronto found out his city’s waste management program had a free textile recycling drop-off that included shoes. He collected his family’s old pairs, made a weekend trip, and said it was faster than waiting in line at a donation center.

Why This Option Works

• It’s local and convenient—no need to ship or wait.
• Many centers sort items and redirect donatable items to charities, making sure your shoes help where they can.
• For shoes beyond repair, materials are shredded and used in insulation, construction, or even road paving.

📞 Before heading out, call your local waste management office or check their website to confirm what’s accepted.

Consider Repairing or Reselling Before Letting Go

Sometimes we give up on our shoes too soon. Maybe the soles are worn down or the heel is loose—but the rest of the shoe is in decent shape. In many cases, a small repair can add months or even years to a shoe’s life. Not only is this good for the planet, but it can also be better for your wallet.

Why Repairing Is a Smart Sustainable Option

Repairing shoes used to be a common practice, but in recent years, the convenience of fast fashion and cheap replacements made it easy to toss things out. That mindset, however, is changing as more people embrace sustainability and intentional living.

Here’s why shoe repair is worth considering:

• It reduces waste by keeping your shoes out of landfills.
• It saves money in the long run—especially with high-quality or specialty footwear.
• It preserves comfort since already-broken-in shoes often fit better than new ones.

Example: A man in Chicago shared how he extended the life of his favorite leather boots by 3 years with a $40 resole—far less than the $200 he would’ve spent on a new pair.

What Can Be Repaired?

You’d be surprised at what a professional cobbler (or even a good DIY kit) can fix:

• Worn-out soles or heels
• Broken or frayed laces
• Detached soles or seams
• Scratched leather or faded color
• Insoles that have flattened out

Even sneakers can sometimes be re-glued or patched, especially if they’re high-end athletic or lifestyle shoes.

📍 Tip: Search for local cobblers in your area—many offer free assessments and affordable pricing.

What About Reselling?

If your shoes are still wearable and stylish—especially if they’re branded or lightly used—reselling can be a great way to give them a second life while earning a little cash.

Best Platforms to Resell Used Shoes:

• Poshmark – Great for casual and fashion footwear.
• eBay – Perfect for athletic shoes, sneakers, or rare finds.
• Facebook Marketplace – Ideal for local sales and fast turnover.
• GOAT / StockX – Targeted toward collectors and sneakerheads looking for name-brand athletic footwear in good condition.

Example: A college student in Austin regularly resells her gently worn sneakers on Depop and uses the earnings to fund new gear. It keeps her closet clean and supports a low-waste lifestyle.

When to Choose Repair or Resale Over Recycling

• The shoes are high quality or name brand.
• They have minimal damage (e.g., sole wear, loose stitching).
• You have a local shoe repair shop nearby.
• The shoes are still stylish and desirable in the secondhand market.

If your shoes don’t meet these criteria—or they’re too damaged for resale or repair—recycling or upcycling will likely be the more responsible path.

Choose Better, More Sustainable Shoes Next Time

Let’s face it—part of responsible shoe disposal is also about making better decisions at the point of purchase. The more intentional we are about what we buy, the less often we’ll need to worry about how to dispose of it later.

What to Look for in Sustainable Footwear

• Durability: High-quality materials and construction mean a longer life span.
• Repairability: Can the soles be replaced? Are the parts stitched (not just glued)?
• Materials: Favor natural rubber, organic cotton, recycled plastics, or even bio-based foams like algae.
• Transparency: Look for brands that clearly share their manufacturing practices and offer take-back or recycling programs.

Brands Making a Difference:

• Allbirds – Uses merino wool and sugarcane-based soles.
• Adidas x Parley – Creates shoes from ocean plastic.
• Veja – Offers ethically made sneakers with wild rubber soles and organic cotton.
• Thousand Fell – Makes fully recyclable sneakers with a take-back program.

A reader told us how switching to a pair of eco-conscious Allbirds reduced her shopping guilt and held up better than her usual sneakers, saving her money over time.

Think Long-Term, Not Just for Style

It’s tempting to grab a trendy pair of shoes that are on sale, but if they fall apart in a few months, it’s not worth it—for your wallet or the environment. A smarter approach is to invest in fewer, better-quality pairs that you love and will wear often.

📦 Tip: Consider keeping a “shoe rotation” where you alternate between a few trusted pairs to extend their lifespan naturally.

Final Thoughts: Small Actions with a Big Impact

You don’t have to overhaul your entire lifestyle to make a difference. Even something as simple as donating a used pair of shoes or choosing to repair instead of replace can help reduce waste and build a more sustainable world.

Whether you donate, recycle, repurpose, or repair your shoes, each step you take brings more life to what would otherwise be waste.

💬 Before You Toss Your Next Pair, Ask Yourself:

• Can someone else still wear these?
• Can they be repaired or resold?
• Is there a creative way I can reuse them?
• Do I have access to a local recycling or donation program?

Make the choice that feels most responsible—and doable—for you. Sustainability isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about making better choices one step at a time.

About The Author