MICHIGAN
The City of East Lansing is turning its citizens' trash into profitable treasure.This spring, the city's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has initiated several recycling programs aimed to reduce waste and promote the reuse of materials.Now through May 31, East Lansing residents tossing out worn and used athletic shoes at the department's athletic shoe recycling drive drop-off site, 2000 Merritt Road, have the chance to continue the reuse loop all the way to Nike Inc.Dave Smith, environmental specialist for the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, said East Lansing and Lansing have both teamed up to join the Reuse-A-Shoe program, a partnership between Nike, the National Recycling Coalition and 30 communities across the country to collect worn athletic shoes.Smith said any brand of athletic shoe will be accepted, but the shoes must be dry, and thongs, sandals, dress shoes, boots, pumps or those with spikes or cleats will not be accepted."This is a positive event for recycling an item that wouldn't normally be recycled," Smith said, adding at least 200 shoes have been donated since the program's start in February.
