CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND NIKE REUSE-A-SHOE PROGRAM

Milwaukee is committed to waste reduction and diversion.

The City of Milwaukee has participated in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program since the summer of 2004 and collects used athletic shoes at numerous locations throughout the metro area. Through 2010, over 73,000 pairs of used athletic shoes have been recycled, saving over 490 cubic yards of landfill space!  That's nearly 55 tons of shoes.

The shoes are shipped to Nike where the outsole, midsole, and upper of each shoe are separated and ground into small pieces. The resulting rubber, foam, and fiber are used in new sports surfaces such as playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and running tracks. The City of Milwaukee utilizes recycled rubber products in its playgrounds and tot lots. Recycled shoe material from the Milwaukee area will end up in athletic and play surfaces in communities throughout the nation.

Get your old shoes back in the game and help conserve resources and landfill space!

• How it works
• List of collection sites
  
  

  Acceptable Shoes:

  Not every shoe is lucky enough to get turned into Nike Grind material. That's because Nike's recycling equipment is set up specifically for the material and dimensions of athletic shoes. Here are the guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable shoe donations:

  Acceptable athletic shoes:

  (ANY BRAND is ok! Worn shoes are ok, just no metal, water, or mud)

  Non-processable / unacceptable athletic shoes:

  		(no metal, cleats, or spikes)
  		(no thongs, sandals, pumps, or dress shoes or boots)
  		(no shoes in plastic bags or tied together)

  
  

  For more information, contact Becky Curtis, DPW Recycling Assistant @ 414-286-2349 or becky.curtis@milwaukee.gov