Sports & Recreation recycling
How to Recycle Athletic Shoes & Sneakers
Sports shoes and sneakers containing mixed materials that can be broken down for material recovery and remanufacturing through specialized athletic footwear recycling programs.
Recyclable$0-5 for recycling; $10-50 for quality used athletic shoesUpdated Jun 2026
Quick answer
Yes, donate wearable sneakers, and recycle worn-out pairs. Drop usable shoes at a thrift store or donation bin; for recycling, Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe and many running stores grind old athletic shoes into track and playground surfaces instead of landfilling them.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- $0-5 for recycling; $10-50 for quality used athletic shoes
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Clean off excess dirt and mud with water
- 2Remove or tie laces to keep pairs together