Can Old Shoes Be Recycled?
Tired of tossing your old shoes in the trash, knowing they’ll just end up rotting in a landfill? Fortunately, there are other options.
At John’s Run/Walk Shop, our recycling programs and partnerships ensure your worn-out shoes are reused or repurposed, not wasted. When it’s time to replace your shoes, choose an eco-friendly solution that helps protect the planet and reduces landfill waste.
What Happens to Worn-Out Shoes?
When you drop old shoe off at John’s Run/Walk Shop, our staff first inspects the shoes to see if they can be reused. Gently worn pairs stay local. We distribute them through existing partner organizations like Lighthouse Ministries and The Hope Center, where they’re given directly to people who need them.
Shoes that can’t be reused locally are sent to Sneaker Impact, which refurbishes eligible pairs for resale through small merchants in developing countries. Unusable shoes are ground into materials—rubber, foam, and textiles—which are then reintroduced into the manufacturing supply chain.
Environmentally Responsible Shoe Recycling
Use First, Then Re‑Use or Recycle
John’s Run/Walk Shop encourages customers to wear and enjoy their gear for its full useful life before returning it. Extending the life of a product is the single most effective way to lower its environmental footprint, and it ensures that any shoes, insoles, or apparel we collect still have the highest potential for second‑life value—whether that’s on a new pair of feet in our community, refurbishment overseas, or material recovery for future products.
When you do decide shoes or insoles are truly at the end of their run, please follow these guidelines:
Retire them only when they’re no longer part of your regular rotation.
Check their general condition. If it isn’t clean, dry, and safe to handle, we can’t accept it.
Remember: Our recycling programs aren’t limited to running shoes. We accept footwear of any type, as long as it fits the general condition criteria listed above.
By returning clean, end‑of‑life products, you help us keep quality items in circulation longer and ensure that recyclable materials stay uncontaminated, maximizing the positive impact of our closed‑loop system.
Call for Community Partnerships
John’s is also calling on local shelters, schools, and organizations that serve people in need to reach out and explore a partnership. If your organization could benefit from footwear donations, email info@johnsrunwalkshop.com to get connected.
