The Friends decided to help the environment and at the same time help you clean out your closets.  Why? Because approximately 300 million pairs of sneakers end up in United States landfills each year.

Recycling sneakers is critical because sneakers are the most difficult footwear types to dispose of responsibly. Most athletic shoes are made from a mix of rubber, foam, textiles, additives and plastics. These materials do not break down easily and can sit in landfills for 30 to 40 years.

We will be conducting the drive from Monday, August 10th to Monday, September 14th. Sneakers do not have to be spotless but should be clean so that excess dirt or mud is removed. Please tie the shoelaces together or put a rubber band around each pair which helps keep pairs together and speeds up sorting and evaluation.

GotSneakers, a zero-waste sneaker recycling company, has recycled and reused over 3.5 million pairs of sneakers and prevented more than 105 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere since the program launched. If you participate, not only will you be helping the Friends raise funds but you will be doing something genuinely good for the planet at the same time!

Two bins are now in the alcove of the library.  You can donate ALL athletic shoes, hiking shoes, and cleats! Super easy!