Can You Recycle Shoes?
No
Not curbside — donate or use take-back programs
Why
Shoes are made of mixed glued materials no curbside facility can separate. Donation and brand take-back programs are the recycling route.
How to dispose of shoes
- Donate wearable pairs, tied together
- Several athletic brands grind old sneakers into sport surfaces — drop them at participating stores
- Truly destroyed shoes go in the trash
Greener option
Repair shops can resole quality shoes for far less than replacing them.
♻️ Recycling rules vary by city and hauler — when in doubt, check your local program. You can look up your area on our trash & recycling schedules page.