Sneaker Impact collects new and gently used sneakers – that might otherwise end up in landfills – to support families in developing countries.
https://sneakerimpact.com/product/recycle/
A lot of the people I know care very little about where their sneakers end up after they have sat in the closet for months and years because we’ve copped a new pair for the tenth time in a year. While sneaker culture is always blamed for why so many shoes are being made, the reality is sneaker enthusiasts treat their shoes like works of art. We try to keep the original box, or store them in the correct temperature so when we want to flex, we can pull out a shoe purchased ten years ago and get that classic Bobbito question, “Where’d you get those?” As long as we keep our shoes, kind of offsets how many are placed into landfills, but the fact that we consume so much has to be discussed more. Sneaker consumption habits are problematic due to the method of make and the carbon footprint of all of the shoes we acquire, but our kicks aren’t landing in trash piles as often as the shoes worn by runners who change kicks every 200 miles, or by kids who outgrow sneakers every month. 
I’m not trying to pit one type of sneaker buyer against another here. I’m trying to establish that everyone buying sneakers contributes to the waste. I’m also saying that most people aren’t even aware of the problems created by the sneaker industry, and they don’t care. When I mention the circular economy in certain circles, I get a blank expression or no comment. I typically have to explain a business like Plato’s Closet or talk about donations to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. Plato’s Closet allows people to drop off lightly used footwear and apparel and they get a payment. Taking shoes to a place like Plato’s Closet takes time. People procrastinate continuously before ever dropping off. Donations to charities are recognized as one of the largest contributors to waste that goes to landfills. When people think they are doing good, donations don’t always reach the end user. Reselling clothing and Donating are two completely different sides of the coin. Sneaker Impact isn’t a final solution. It’s another option in the circular economy. Quite possibly, especially for sneaker enthusiasts who may have multiple pairs they simply don’t feel like cleaning to flip on eBay, Sneaker Impact is the easiest program to use to get those extra 100 pair out of your closet. Check out these videos and take the time to read about this program. I’m not saying to use them, I’m only trying to deliver content on the options: