Textiles recycling
How to Recycle Athletic Shoes & Sneakers
Running, training, and court sneakers. Best first path is donation and reuse. Material recovery exists in limited brand or manufacturing programs; it is not a universal any-brand curbside option.
RecyclableWearable pairs have donation and resale value; material-recovery payouts to households are uncommonUpdated Jul 2026
Quick answer
Donate wearable athletic shoes through Soles4Souls, thrift stores, or local youth programs. Nike store recycling and donation is limited to Nike athletic footwear at participating stores (ask in store; Reuse-A-Shoe may still be offered). Do not assume any-brand grinding into playground turf.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Wearable pairs have donation and resale value; material-recovery payouts to households are uncommon
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Knock off mud; wipe dirty uppers
- 2Keep pairs together (tie or bag laces)