How to Recycle Sneakers

Sneakers are surprisingly versatile because they have durable soles, sturdy fabrics, and a structured shape. With creative recycling, it's easy to transform them into original vases and planters, pet toys, and organizers for the garage, pantry, or cellar.

Plant holder

A sneaker, for example, can become a unique plant or bonsai holder for the garden or, why not, anywhere in the house. Simply clean the sole and, if necessary, line the inside with a garbage bag and poke a few holes in it to prevent water from pooling inside.

Flower holder

High-top sneakers can also make original flower holders . Have a freshly picked bouquet and don't know where to put it? Why not tuck it into your sneakers ? For convenience, you could first place the bouquet inside a plastic bottle (with the top cut off) half-filled with water. This way, they won't get wet.

Sandals

If your shoes are too old or you don't like the color anymore, arm yourself with hot glue, buttons, and a lot of patience. Then, little by little, cover the outside of the shoes with buttons : you'll have a sandal or a duckling. Brand new and ready to turn heads.

Stair brakes

Those who want to transform their shoes into something useful for their home can consider turning them into practical brakes for using the ladder at home. Simply insert the ladder's "feet" inside the shoes and you're done.

Rope bracelets

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You can create original string bracelets with old sneakers . All you need are old shoes and bags with string handles. Cut the fabric around the shoelace loops and reuse them. Wrap colored thread around them to decorate them, then insert the cord, securing it at the ends with small finishing cups and a lobster clasp to close the bracelet.

Decorations

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If your shoes are old but still very comfortable and not ready to throw them away, you could always consider decorating them with beads, glitter, small pieces of plastic , or painting them with acrylic paint. They'll take on a whole new look, and maybe you'll love them so much that you'll start using them again every day, abandoning the idea of throwing them away as you had originally intended.

Playground flooring

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The material from which sneakers are made can be used to revitalize playground flooring. This was established in 2015 by Esosport, the first sports shoe recycling project in Italy and Europe. Esosport has entered into agreements with several schools, sports facilities, and shops, equipping them with Esoboxes, recycled cardboard containers into which old sneakers can be placed. The soles of the shoes will then be separated from the uppers, creating a new raw material. Thanks to an association called Gogreen Onlus, this material will be donated free of charge to public administrations so they can build gardens and parks for children.

Pime Onlus Foundation

Photo Credit | Facebook Run4Dignity

Another option, perhaps the best, to avoid wasting used sneakers is to donate them . The most active organization in this regard is the Pime Onlus Foundation in Milan, where religious and lay people work together on specific volunteer projects. Among these is Run 4 Dignity , which involves collecting sneakers. Once received, the Foundation sells them at flea markets to raise funds, or recovers the raw materials (for the most worn-out ones), or even donates them directly. The project benefits poor communities in Brazil, Guinea Bissau, and Myanmar.

Nest

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Have you ever thought of recycling sneakers into a nest ? Yes, with a little ingenuity, an old sneaker can become a cozy home for robins, swallows, and any other species that needs shelter. Just hang it from a branch or attach it to a tree trunk. The residents will soon arrive, trust us.

Door stop

A final practical use for old sneakers is to turn them into doorstops . Simply fill them with sand or pebbles previously placed in a bag and place the shoe near the door you don't want to accidentally close. Of course, you can first decorate them with decorations that match the surrounding environment.

Where to throw away sneakers

Disposing of sneakers isn't complicated, and there's no reason to throw them all over the place, haphazardly. Shoes, laces, insoles, silica gel sachets: everything goes in the unsorted waste. If they're stored in cardboard boxes, only these packaging should be disposed of in the paper and cardboard bins.

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