Running shoes generally have an effective lifespan of no more than 800 kilometres before they should be replaced. That’s roughly two to three pairs a year for the average runner. But what do you do with all those old trainers? You can’t just chuck ’em in the bin and not feel guilty about it right? Luckily for us, there are much better eco-friendly options. So, what should you do with your old running shoes? Read on.
Every year there are about 24 billion shoes of all types manufactured across the world, and where do most of these end up? Yep, in land-fill of course. Some of the materials used in shoe production, such as PVC and EVA can take up to 1000 years to break down. It’s an incredible environmental problem and a massive waste of resources.
Australia imports 25 million running shoes a year, and out of those, less than 2% are recycled. Also an incredible waste.
Most people aren’t aware of the options available to them, and that’s the brief for this post. To set out some alternative ways to dispose of your old trainers that you might not have known existed. Let’s get into it.
Repurpose Your Old Running Shoes.
Can’t bear to throw your trusty old friends away? You’ve been through a lot together, right? Here’s a list of practical and fun things you can do with them-
Use Them as Daily Drivers.
The most obvious use for retired running shoes is repurposing them for casual use. They are still in really good condition, far too good to throw away. Why not just wear them for walking or as casual shoes?
It can be ok to use retired running shoes in a casual setting as long as you are not ONLY wearing running shoes and as long as the soles aren’t too worn. Running shoes have different biomechanical effects on the body than work, casual, and walking shoes.
Use them in this way for sure but mix it up with other shoes as well.
Mud Runners.
Signing up for a Tough Mudder or True Grit event? You don’t want to drag your swanky new $300 pair of running kicks through miles of mud and subject them to all manner of outrageous (but fun) abuse. Your recently retired trainers are a great alternative.
Green Thumb, Comfy Toes.
Your old running shoes are great for the garden. They are going to get wet, muddy, and stained so why not keep a pair in the shed for mowing the lawn or gardening? If you’re in Australia, you know the routine, check to make sure no Redbacks, Funnelwebs, or any other pernicious creatures have taken up residence inside your shoes before you shove your feet into them.
Herb Pots.
Here’s a novel idea. Turn your old trainers into plant pots. Drill a few holes through the soles for drainage, put a layer of stones in the shoe, fill with soil and plant some herb seeds. Stake them into the ground if you are growing something top-heavy.
Bird Feeder.
Another fun idea, and a good way to attract birds into your garden. Attach the old running shoe to a tree or simply hang with the laces. Fill with seed, and voila, you have a cool little bird feeder.
Door Stop.
Fill them with sand, or even concrete, and use them as doorstops. You could even paint them to match your decor
Repair Your Old Running Shoes.
The main reason it is not recommended to wear running shoes beyond 800k for running is that over time, the midsole loses its cushioning ability and begins to compact. But if your shoes are still within the 800k and have sustained some other form of damage, they can often be repaired. Here’s how-
Cobbler.
Shoe repair is still a thing and can often be an economical way to effect repairs that will keep your damaged running shoes usable. Mister Minit is a convenient shoe repair service you can find in many shopping malls across the country.
Do it Yourself.
Have you accidentally torn the mesh upper by snagging it on a stick or similar? You’re in luck, there are a number of products you can use for do-it-yourself repairs of ripped or holed mesh uppers. Here is an excellent article that will walk you through the repair process step by step, click here.
If the outsole is separating from the shoe, or even if you want to build up a worn patch on the sole, using a quality adhesive will get the job done. Here are a couple of quality adhesives you can try-
- Shoe-Goo. Probably the most popular and widely available choice. This is a very strong adhesive and dries clear so it doesn’t look like a repair job. Check it out here.
- Gorilla Glue. Here’s another super strong waterproof glue also available in a clear drying formula. Check it out here. If you are in Australia you can pick this up at Bunnings.
Resell Your Old Running Shoes.
You’ve just retired your favourite running shoes from active duty and you don’t really have any further use for them. They are too good to throw away. Can you resell them to someone else who will get good use out of them?
Yes, you can. Here are some options-
- Gumtree. Click here to see what people are selling and at what prices.
- Ebay. As with Gumtree, Ebay is also a good resale platform, check it out here.
- Facebook. Here’s a Facebook Group that has been set up specifically to cater for runners buying, selling and swapping running gear.
Try different combinations of searches on the above platforms, they offer many ways to sell your used running shoes.
Donating Instead.
Simply donating your old running shoes is a great way to rehome them if you don’t care about getting any money for them. Give them a clean up and drop them off at your local Vinnies, Salvo’s or any other Op-Shop. This is clearly a better option than binning them.
How to Clean Your Running Shoes.
Whether you are selling or donating your old running kicks, you are going to want to give them a polish up first.
Here is a great step-by-step guide from Adidas on how to clean your running shoes, check it out here.
Remember to tie pairs together by the laces so they don’t get separated or lost when you are donating them.
Recycle Your Old Running Shoes.
Running shoes should never go to the landfill, they take too long to break down and it’s a waste of resources. Consequently, recycling is a far better option.
Fortunately, there are many great shoe recycling programs available that will take your old shoes and recycle them in various ways.
Let’s take a look at your options –
Save Our Soles Program.
This fantastic recycling program is run by the Australian Sporting Goods Association and is specifically designed to mitigate the number of sports shoes ending up in landfills.
The shoes are collected, processed and turned into new products such as flooring, gym mats and playgrounds.
There are collection bins located in Rebel sports stores, Sportspower Stores and a number of manufacturer stores such as Adidas.
At Run My Way Australia, we fully support this initiative and encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to responsibly dispose of your old trainers. Check out the program here.
Shoes For Planet Earth.
Here’s another great program. This wonderful initiative is designed to collect shoes that are still in good condition and send them to communities that have a need for them, both here in Australia and around the world.
This is perfect for running shoes that have reached their 800k training lifespan but are still in good enough condition to be repurposed for casual use.
Check out the website here for more details and drop off points.
Nike – Reuse a Shoe.
It’s great to see a major manufacturer acknowledging and addressing the huge waste problem of used running shoes.
Nike will accept old worn-out trainers (from any manufacturer) and recycle them into a product they call Nike Grind. This product is then used to produce running track, court, and playground surfaces.
It’s a great initiative and they have collection bins in Rebel Sports stores.
This program is also available in the USA and the UK. Check it out here.
Upparel.
We love this one. Upparel will not only accept your old running shoes, but they will also take most of your unused clothes as well.
Wash and clean your unwanted textiles, order and pay for a delivery box from Upparel, box up your gear and send it to them for recycling.
You can even score a $25 voucher to spend on their products, such as their great range of sports socks.
It’s another great program, check it out here.
Wrapping It Up.
So, what should you do with your old running shoes?
The takeaway message from this article is that we have options for our old trainers, there is no need to just throw them in the bin.
Recycling or repurposing our running shoes is robustly supported in this country and around the world. It’s up to us as runners to support these programs given that we may be purchasing as many as three or four pairs of running shoes every year.
It’s important to note also that we can not put old trainers in our normal household recycling bin with our plastic, paper and glass products, they will be sorted out and diverted to landfill.
Extend the Life of Your Running Shoes.
Extending the life of our current running shoes is another way to reduce waste. By having two or three pairs of running shoes and cycling through them with each workout, you will give the midsole foam time to spring back between runs, increasing their working life.
For ideas on what sort of trainers to buy, we often review new releases such as this one on the Saucony Triumph 18, you can check it out here.
Buying Products Made from Recycled Materials.
Another way we can do our bit for the environment is by buying products that have been made from recycled materials. Adidas has been manufacturing shoe uppers from plastic removed from the oceans and collected on beaches. Here is a great video showing how they make these remarkable products.
Whichever way you look at it, recycling and repurposing is a fun, feel-good way to do our bit for the environment.
Do you have any other ideas on what to do with our old running shoes, please let us know in the comments section below.
Happy running
Steve
