Sneakers go green

By CLAIRE MICHALEWICZ, Press Staff

MIDDLETOWN — The city of Middletown is once again collecting sneakers to be recycled into athletic surfaces.

From now until June 27, area residents can drop off their used, unwanted sneakers at the Recycling Center.

“The rules are simple,” Recycling Coordinator Kim O’Rourke said — only athletic shoes, from any brand, are acceptable.

The shoes can’t contain metal eyelets or cleats, and the recycling center won’t accept dress shoes, sandals, boots or shoes with lights in them. Wet or muddy shoes are also not acceptable, and sneakers shouldn’t be tied together.

O’Rourke said the sneaker collection is timed for the spring because it’s a time when people think about cleaning out their closets and about buying new shoes for the summer.

“Recycling sneakers will help reduce pollution, conserve energy and save natural resources,” O’Rourke said, “Not to mention clean out many overstuffed closets.”
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