KIC Junior Commissioners Run With Recycling

Sneakers are usually found on running tracks, not in them, but Keep Islip Clean Junior Commissioners are working hard to change that. Every year throughout the month of January, KIC JCs collect, sort, pack and then ship old sneakers to the NIKE Reuse-A-Shoe facility in Memphis. The footwear is ground up and recycled into athletic surfaces, which NIKE then donates free of charge to disadvantaged communities throughout the nation.

People who are unfamiliar with the project assume that the sneakers will be donated to thrift shops, which is a wonderful example of “Reuse” in the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” trio. And we always do just that with sneakers that are in good condition. However, the vast majority of old sneakers are not wearable so they become part of the unique NIKE program.

This event is the signature project of the Junior Commissioners, who are high school students nominated to KIC by their principals or school advisors because of their interest in community service and environmental issues. Last year, they shipped nearly 4,000 sneakers to NIKE. That translates to about one ton of material that was kept out of Islip’s waste stream thanks to their efforts. The JCs are clearly very serious about this project and so they are aiming even higher this year with the new goal set at 5,000 sneakers.

If the JCs are going to reach their goal, we need you to pull out all those old sneakers that are hiding at the back of your closet and bring them down to the KIC office by Monday, January 31. Keep in mind that NIKE will accept all sneaker brands, but not any other type of footware. In addition, metal, such as cleats or old fashioned shoelace grommets, must be removed. Carefully adhering to the guidelines makes the job much easier for volunteers, who must sort through every one of the thousands of sneakers received.

This is a big volunteer effort so I encourage you to roll up your sleeves and help us with sorting and packing. KIC also gets much needed help from National Grid and the Long Island Ducks Baseball Team, who underwrite the considerable cost of shipping.

I hope as many people as possible contribute in some way to this project. Recycling sneakers is good for the local environment and the athletic surfaces that are eventually donated by NIKE promote healthier lifestyles for children. That’s a true win-win situation!

Sneakers can be dropped off at the KIC office, 660 Main Street in Islip, or the Long Island Ducks stadium on Carleton Avenue in Central Islip until January 31. Please call 631-224-2627 for more information or if you want to volunteer.

Nancy Cochran is the executive director of Keep Islip Clean.