KIC Junior Commissioners Launch Annual Sneaker Recycling Drive

Sneakers are usually 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 ship old sneakers to the NIKE Reuse-A-Shoe facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The footware is ground up and recycled into athletic surfaces, which NIKE then donates to underserved communities throughout the nation.

This unique sneaker recycling event is the signature project of KIC JCs, who form a special Keep Islip Clean program. They are nominated by their principals to KIC because of their interest in community service and environmental issues. Last year, nearly 4,000 sneakers were kept out of Islip's solid waste stream thanks to their efforts and the JCs have set this year's goal at 5,000 sneakers.

NIKE will accept only sneakers, not any other type of footware. In addition, metal, such as cleats or old fashioned shoelace grommets, must be removed. Pre-sorting by people donating their sneakers makes the job much easier for volunteers, who will sort through the thousands of sneakers received. Further assistance for this large endeavor comes from National Grid and the Long Island Ducks Baseball Team, who underwrite the considerable cost of shipping the approximately one ton of material collected each year.

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 Jan. 31, 2011. Please call 631-224-2627 for more information.