You’ve taken a good hard look at your favorite pair of sandals and decided that they have outlived their lifespan. So what do you do with these out-of-favor shoes- or any other variety for that matter? Do you simply throw them into the dustbin or is there a way you can put them to good use? We advocate for the latter and we’ll show you how to do that by embracing shoe recycling.
The benefits to shoe recycling
Shoe recycling proves advantageous to both people and the environment. By taking this route, you are helping Mother Nature win the battle with non-biodegradable wastes which are essentially what these shoes are mostly made of. Moreover, you are converting would be throw-aways into valuable products that can be resold or donated to charity to help the less fortunate. In a nutshell, it is a win-win practice that should be adopted by all.
How Shoe Recycling can be Done:
1) Through donations to sportswear companies
A shoe is usually made up of a sole and a textile upside and it’s usually the sole that gives in more often than not. The upper half can still be useful and many sportswear makers are on the hunt for these parts which can help make the architecture of running tracks, tennis courts and all kinds of playing surfaces. Be on the lookout for associated programs or events of shoe recycling and if your area is seldom to such visits, you can take it upon yourself to set up a recycling fun day of some sorts.
2) By donating to the less-privileged
When the phrase shoe recycling’ comes to mind, you straight away think of old, rusty shoes that are practically unwearable but that is not always the case. It also refers to those wearable pairs that are at the bottom of your pecking order or those shoes that have seen better days and are simply not your cup of tea anymore though they are still very much functional. You can donate these types of shoes to local charities and help better the life of someone less fortunate. If there’s no charity in close proximity, you can find plenty of online ones that are always looking for such footwear.
3) Simple DIY alterations
Alternatively, you could also reinvent your old shores to make them more alluring. Simple DIY projects that you can do without breaking a sweat include painting and crocheting which can turn a pair of ordinary worn-out footwear into a gorgeous work of art.
Canvas shoes are particularly favorable to painting and you could get a pattern you like online and replicate it on the textile. For heels, you could beautify them by gluing on decorations such as jewels, glitter and whatnot. And these are just but a few of the many DIY projects for shoes, from sandals to sneakers, available on the vast interwebs.
The next time you think of throwing out your unwanted shoes, remember that one man’s garbage is another’s treasure and that environmental pollution is choking the planet we know and love. So don’t throw away but recycle! You’ll make the world a better place.