What to Do With Your Unwanted Shoes - A Complete Guide
This post was last updated in 2023
Shoe production is in the order of BILLIONS each year and shows no sign of slowing down.
I’m no mathematician, but I suspect this means there are a lot of shoes out there that people no longer want or need. So what are we to do with all these unwanted shoes?
Instead of letting them gather dust in the back of your closet or tossing them in the trash, there are numerous sustainable options for managing your old footwear. Here are your options:
This guide provides further details on each of these options, along with further resources and list of places to take your unwanted shoes. You can click on the links above or keep reading to find out more.
At the end of the blog post you will also find answers to the following related questions:
Firstly, let’s get into the various options mentioned above.
1. Sell your shoes online
If your shoes are like near new, selling your shoes online is a good option for you.
And if you’re trying to get rid of near-new athletic shoes then this is DEFINITELY the option for you. There is a large market for athletic shoes, even if second-hand, so it is worth putting in a little effort to get something back from your original purchase.
Many of the online platforms where you sell clothing in Australia are good marketplaces for shoes as well.
Specifically, you can sell your shoes online at:
If you click on the links above it will take you to a blog post that reviews each of the platforms in the context of selling clothing. The comments there about the user experience apply to shoes as well.
But here is a quick summary of each of the platforms:
| Platform Name | Optimal Use |
|---|---|
The effort required to sell an item is often what stops people from taking this step. But as covered in Is Selling Your Clothes Worth It? Tips to Help You Out, it’s all about your mindset going into this and putting a good system in place.
Listing an item does not take as long as you would think and dealing with customers can be made easy, if you set limits and boundaries on how much time you spend on this. I spent no more than 1/2 hr each week managing items for sale, as I slowly decluttered my home.
2. Sell your shoes through consignment stores
If you have near-new shoes from a well-known brand and you don’t want the trouble of managing the sale of your item, then consignment is the option for you.
If you don’t know what consignment is, it’s an arrangement where you agree to leave your items with a third party to sell on your behalf. The third party manages the selling process and once the item has sold, you get the agreed percentage of the sale price.
There is a SURPRISING number of small businesses dedicated to selling second-hand shoes on consignment. And most of them operate online.
Here’s a list of places for you to consider:
| Company | Type of Shoes | Base Location | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelle Shoes | Luxury womens shoes | Sydney | |
| Solemate Sneakers | Womens, mens and kids sneakers | Sydney | Online form |
| Secret Sneaker Store | Mens and womens sneakers - specific brands | Melbourne, Chadstone, Sydney, | Facebook message |
| Head 2 Sole | Womens, mens and kids sneakers | Unknown | Email - consignment and buy back |
| Kickstw | Womens, mens and kids sneakers | Melbourne | Online form - consignment and buy back |
In all cases, you do need to contact the company using the method noted above and they will be able to advise you what they do or don’t accept and how much of the final sale price you can expect when you consign your items to them. As noted above, some also offer buy-backs, where they will purchase the items from you upfront.
In my review of consignment stores that sell clothing, I found two that also accept shoes:
Click on the links above to find out more about these companies and their payout options.
When it comes to luxury shoes, several online marketplaces will take shoes on consignments, such as The Real Real, Vestaire Collective etc. A lot of these are overseas, so the item would need to be in the order of hundreds to make it worth your while to send items to them.
There are more options out there. I focused on online options only however, if you were to Google “shoe consignment (a major town near you)” you might come across some other small businesses that are worth considering.
Across the board, it is clear that this is an option if you have one of two types of shoes – shoes from luxury brands or highly-sought after athletic shoes, like Air Jordans, Nikes, Yeezy and New Balance.
3. Have a shoe swap with friends or family
If you have shoes with a lot of wear left in them, you could organise a swap party with friends and family.
This works well if you are planning to have a swap party that includes other clothing and accessories, at least one of your friends is the same size as you and they don’t mind second-hand shoes. And if they are into the same style of shoes as you. And they have recently decluttered and are interested in swapping.
Yes, that’s a lot of conditions that need to exist all at the same time! So I don’t think this is a viable option unless it is organised in the right way.
Here’s one example of a clothing swap event organised not just amongst friends, but among community members, which may inspire you to give this a go:
4. Donate them to someone in need
If your shoes have a lot of wear left in them and you are happy to give them away, here’s what I suggest:
Give away to friends or family members
Perhaps there is someone in your life that might be interested in your shoes. This is typically the case when it comes to kid’s shoes, but it might also be the case for someone who has recently moved from overseas or life has left them without their usual set of clothing and accessories. Take a couple of photos, send them across and see what they say.
Donate to community or church groups
You or someone you know may be part of a community or church group collecting items for people in need. Perhaps there is a local women’s shelter, crisis accommodation or social housing project in your area. It’s worthwhile to ask or check Google to find out what’s nearby.
Donate to specialised charities
Some charities focus on a particular group of people in need, for example, people looking for work or new mums. Many accept shoes.
For a list of charities operating in Australia that accept shoes, refer to Where to Donate Clothing In Australia – A Full Guide.
Donate to Shoes for Planet Earth
Shoes for Planet Earth is an Australian-based not-for-profit that accepts running shoes that are in good condition to pass on to those in need in Australia and around the world. They have provided over 80,000 shoes to over 18 countries.
To donate shoes to this charity you need to email them at info@shoesforplanetearth.com with your:
- location
- number of pairs of shoes
- type – male/female/kids
And they will connect you to a local charity that you can either drop off or mail your shoes to.
Donate to Boots For All
Boots For All is a not-for-profit in Australia that aims to dissolve the barriers to sports by ensuring those in need in Australia have access to sporting goods and equipment. This includes sporting shoes.
Anyone can donate by paying a $20 fee for a courier to pick up up to 20kg of reasonable quality shoes (and sporting goods if you have any to donate).
You will receive a $15 voucher to spend on their online store (which you can choose not to use if that does sit right with you).
Donate to Soles 4 Souls
Soles 4 Souls is a US-based initiative that donates shoes and clothing to those in need.
It does not have a strong presence in Australia but it does operate through the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise, according to this website: http://soles4souls.org.au/donateshoes/
It notes that currently you can donate your shoes at Mount View Primary School in Glen Waverly, Victoria.
List them on Facebook marketplace and freecycle groups
This is not a bad option if you want to give away items for free. It’s very easy to create a listing and post them to local buy-nothing or freecycle groups. Though I have to admit, I have found shoes difficult to move even when listed for free.
The go-to for most people is to donate to one of the major charities, such as the Red Cross, St Vincent de Pauls or the Salvation Army. These organisations are great for what they do but unfortunately, not everything sent to them ends up being reused by someone in need.
Around 33% of donations are sold overseas and it has been reported that these are not reused as the charities would wish them to be – especially when it comes to clothing. The clothes often flood overseas markets, killing local trade and eventually end up in landfill. More information on this can be found in the blog post What REALLY Happens to Donated Clothes in Australia.
It is unclear what impact shoe donations have on the global second-hand market, but this is a factor to consider.
For that reason, I encourage you to consider the other options mentioned above.
If they don’t work out for you, then, of course, take advantage of the services the larger charities have to offer. Just make sure your shoes are in good condition and fit for resale if you donate to one of these charities – or any charity for that matter!
And for the reasons mentioned in the blog post Do charity and thrift stores wash donated clothing? I would wash or clean your shoes as much as possible before donating.
5. Repair or revive your shoes
If your shoes are looking worn out, beaten up or losing their sole and rough inside – don’t give up on them!
Most shoe issues can be repaired.
You can try to repair them yourself. On YouTube, there are several tutorials addressing all kinds of issues like worn-out heels, peeling material, soles coming off etc.
Here’s one (of many) helpful videos:
If DIY is not your thing, take your shoes to a cobbler. Most shopping complexes I’ve been to have at least one shoe repair kiosk hidden away somewhere. They usually offer other services like key cutting etc.
Keep an eye out for them.
I’ve had several shoes resoled at my local shopping centre. It does come at a price (around $30 when I last used their services several years back) but if you have good quality shoes on hand, it’s worthwhile doing.
When it comes to reviving your old shoes, don’t underestimate the power of a good clean. Generally speaking, shoes made of canvas, nylon, cotton and polyester can safely be washed in a washing machine, making it nice and easy to clean your used shoes.
When it comes to sneakers, you could take them to the Sneaker Laundry for that professional touch.
Spend some time on their Instagram page and you will be amazed by how they can transform shoes using their cleaning products. They have stores in Sydney and Melbourne.
They also sell their products online, so this is an option to consider, even if there is no “laundry” near you. You can have a look at their range of products here.
Lastly, if you have purchased from a sustainable shoe company, they may have a repair service available. Brands like Vivio and NuShoes offer this.
This is something to keep in mind going forward – no need to worry about what to do with worn-out shoes if you have purchased from a brand focused on sustainability.
6. Downcycle or repurpose the shoes
Downcycling involves taking an item and converting it into something of lesser value.
Perhaps there are parts of the shoe that you can use for an art project? Art projects seem to be the thing when it comes to downcycling and repurposing items!
For some downcycling inspiration, check out one of these websites. They list some interesting ways to reuse old shoes:
I have to admit, a lot of these ideas were ummm… interesting! But not something I’d like to see in my own home.
Except of course what you see pictured here.
I had to do this with some old boots.
Another idea I got from an Instagram follower – if the shoes are beyond repair, give them to a neighbour that has a dog. The dog may appreciate it!
Also, it doesn’t hurt to keep at least one pair of old shoes on hand to wear when doing messy odd jobs around the home.
7. Recycle your shoes
Thankfully the world of shoe recycling is expanding and there are several places where you can recycle your old, worn-out shoes.
The two major organisations that can help you with recycling shoes in Australia include:
Treadlightly is convenient as they have collection points throughout Australia, through various retail stores like Target, Rebel, Clarks and many more.
Further details on both initiatives can be found by clicking on the links above.
Some shoe retailers also offer a free collection of their shoes, once they are at the end of their life. These include:
-
Havaianas and
They will ensure the items are recycled.
If you are after more information about shoe recycling, check out this blog post: Shoe Recycling in Australia – Common Questions Answered!
8. Compost them if that is an option
It is highly unlikely that this is an option for you BUT if you know your shoe is made from 100% natural materials, then it may be possible to compost your shoes.
However, keep in mind it’s not only the main body of the shoe that needs to be 100% natural – all other components need to be considered as well. You need to know how the shoe is held together, what materials the sole is made from etc.
Although I have not explored this myself, I have heard that there are brands there that sell 100% compostable shoes.
If your shoes are from one of these brands and they have confirmed that composting is a viable end-of-life option, then and only then would I consider this as an option.
In short, instead of simply throwing away your old shoes, explore various options like donation, recycling, and creative reuse to give your footwear a second life.
By making conscious choices, we can collectively reduce our environmental footprint and work towards a more sustainable future for fashion and our planet.
xxx Tahsin
Related Questions:
Should I throw away worn-out shoes?
Throwing worn-out shoes directly into the trash should be your last resort. If your shoes are not suitable for donation or reuse, explore ways to repair or revive your shoes. Otherwise, send them to organisations, like TreadLightly and Upparel, for recycling.
More information on all these options can be found above.
Given all these options, very few shoes should end up in landfill.
Where can I donate shoes in Australia?
You can donate shoes to Shoes for Planet Earth, Boots for All, Soles 4 Souls, Dress for Success and Fitted for Work. Also, consider giving them away to friends or family, posting the items as free on Facebook Marketplace or donating them to your local community or church group.
Donating shoes to charities such as the Red Cross, St Vincent de Pauls, Salvation Army and others that sell second-hand goods is also an option. However, ensure the shoes are near new condition before you donate your items to these charities. Otherwise, there is a risk that the shoes end up in markets overseas, potentially ending up in landfill.
What to do with shoes that are too old to donate?
If your shoes are unsuitable for donation, don’t toss them into the garbage. Instead, consider repurposing them for other uses around the home (using them as pots for small plants seems popular) or using components for art projects. As a last resort, you can always send your shoes off for recycling.
What are some ways to make old pairs of shoes good again?
An old pair of shoes can be made good again through cleaning and conditioning, to remove dirt and revitalise the material. You can take your damaged shoes to a cobbler to see if they can be repaired or you could learn how to restore your shoes using online tutorials and DIY kits.
And if its a pair of much loved but worn out sneakers that you are looking to revive, consider visiting the Sneaker Laundry.
And if its a pair of much loved but worn out sneakers that you are looking to revive, consider visiting the Sneaker Laundry.
More information on this can be found above.
What happens to shoes in landfill?
When shoes end up in landfills, they undergo a slow decomposition process due to the lack of oxygen, which inhibits microbial activity. As the materials typically used in shoes, such as plastic, rubber and leather, do not readily decompose, this results in shoes taking anywhere between 30 – 500+ years to break down.
Here is some information I found on how long it takes for certain substances to decompose:
- Leather shoes take 25-40 years
- Rubber shoes take 50 -80 years.
- Synthetic fibres can take 500+ years
And this is the general composition of a standard shoe:
So at best leather shoes can take 25-40 years to decompose. But the average shoe is likely to take much longer – perhaps even 500+ years. Some even say 1,000 + years.
In addition to taking up valuable landfill space, shoes can release harmful chemicals as they degrade, potentially polluting the surrounding soil and water.
Here are some of the major pollutants linked with footwear materials and their processes:
It’s a whole host of plasticisers and other toxic chemicals.
Rough numbers on how many shoes end up in landfill each year are hard to come by. But we do know that in 2021 around 22 billion shoes were produced worldwide – every year that many shoes are consumed.
And guess where they end up at the end of their life?
That is a LOT of shoes that are going to be sticking around for a very long time, polluting our environment!
