Guide To Donate Or Recycle Shoes In Singapore? Teach Your Kids About Giving Back

Doing some spring cleaning and about to throw away some old shoes? Why not recycle them instead? You’ll help the environment and give the shoe materials a new lease of life by doing so. Here’s some information about shoe donation and recycling in Singapore. 

Can shoes be recycled in Singapore?

Yes, you can now donate your old shoes and other footwear to be recycled in Singapore. There are over 80 collection points on this island, and we’ve listed them for you further down in this article. 

What type of shoes can be recycled? 

Active SG, the organisation that launched Singapore’s nationwide effort to reduce shoe waste, accepts all rubberised shoes. This includes school shoes, sports shoes, rubberised sandals, slippers, and even football boots. Just make sure that the shoes you're recycling do not have metal parts. 

What condition shoes are accepted? 

Although these shoes are to be recycled, they should be in a generally clean condition when you drop them off at collection points. Dirty and soiled shoes will result in contamination. Additionally, make sure the shoes you’re handing in a dry. 

Why recycle your old shoes? 

All shoes age over time. While it’s easier to just toss them in the bin and buy new ones, recycling them is a far better option. Here are some reasons why you should think twice before throwing them away: 

• Recycling shoes will help to reduce landfill waste and help the environment
• Recycling shoes will help reduce your carbon footprint 
• The old shoe materials will have a new life

If your shoes are still wearable, you can choose to donate them to people who are in need. This means you’ll be able to provide footwear for those less fortunate or in a third-world nation. 

How are old shoes repurposed? 

Material from old shoes can be repurposed for many uses. Currently, in Singapore, Active SG converts rubber soles into granular material at a grinding facility so that they can be used to make sports infrastructures such as fitness corners, jogging tracks, gym mats and playgrounds. There are also plans to develop other sports equipment with other suitable shoe parts, such as the shoes’ fabric. 

Shoe recycle bin near me

Here are some locations you can drop your shoes off to be recycled in Singapore: 

1. Bedok Stadium
2. Bishan Sport Centre
3. Bukit Gombak Sport Centre
4. Clementi Sport Centre
5. Choa Chu Kang Sport Centre
6. Heartbeat @ Bedok Sport Centre
7. Hougang Sport Centre
8. Jalan Besar Sport Centre
9. Jurong East Sport Centre
10. Jurong West Sport Centre
11. Kallang Practise Track (Home of Athletics)
12. Pasir Ris Sports Centre
13. Queentowns Sport Centre
14. Tampines Sport Centre 
15. Toa Payoh Sport Centre
16. Sengkang Sport Centre
17. Serangoon Sport Centre
18. Yio Chu Kang Sport Centre
19. Yishun Sport Centre
20. Woodlands Sport Centre
21. Decathlon Singapore Lab
22. Decathlon Bedok
23. Decathlon City Square Mall
24. Decathlon Orchard
25. Deacthlon Joo Koon
26. Hwi Yoh Park
27. Maplewood Park
28. Mayfair Park
29. Bedok Community Centre
30. Cairnhill Community Centre
31. Chong Pang Community Centre
32. Hougang Community Centre
33. Nanyang Community Centre
34. Senja-Cashew Community Centre
35. Siglap South Community Centre
36. Tampines West Community Centre
37. Teck Ghee Community Centre
38. Yuhua Community Centre
39. Singapore Cricket Club (Padang Field @ A Connaught Drive / Dempsey)

The following drop off points at institutions are available for staff and students only:

Primary Schools

1. Anderson Primary School
2. Bukit Panjang Primary School
3. Bukit View Primary School
4. Clementi Primary School
5. Corporation Primary School
6. CHIJ (Kellock)
7. Edgefield Primary School
8. Fairfield Methodist Primary School
9. Fuchun Primary School
10. Fuhua Primary School
11. Geylang Methodist Primary School
12. Henry Park Primary School
13. Hong Wen School
14. Innova Primary School
15. Jurong West Primary School
16. Kheng Cheng School
17. Lakeside Primary School
18. Lianhua Primary School
19. Marymount Convent School
20. Mee Toh School
21. Northoaks Primary School
22. North Vista Primary School
23. Opera Estate Primary School
24. Palm View Primary School
25. Pei Chun Public School
26. Pei Tong Primary School
27. Poi Ching School
28. Princess Elizabeth Primary School
29. Qihua Primary School
30. River Valley Primay School
31. Rosyth School
32. Rulang Primary School
33. Sembwang Primary School
34. Seng Kang Primary School
35. Springdale Primary School
36. St Anthony's Primary School
37. St Hilda's Primary School
38. Tampines North Primary School
39. Tanjong Katong Primary School
40. West Grove Primary School
41. Woodgrove Primary School
42. Xingnan Primary School
43. Xinmin Primary School
44. Xishan Primary School

Secondary Schools

1. Assumption English School
2. Boon Lay Secondary School
3. Bukit Batok Secondary School
4. Bukit Panjang Government High School
5. Catholic High School
6. Chua Chu Kang Secondary School
7. Chung Cheng High School (Main) 
8. CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent
9. Clementi Town Secondary School
10. Fuchun Secondary School
11. Gan Eng Seng School (Secondary)
12. Jurong Secondary School
13. Jurongville Secondary School
14. Montfort Secondary School
15. Nan Hua High School
16. Nanyang Girls' High School
17. New Town Secondary School
18. Northbrooks Secondary School
19. Queenstown Secondary School
20. Queensway Secondary School
21. Seng Kang Secondary School
22. Swiss Cottage Secondary School
23. Woodlands Secondary School
24. Yuhua Secondary School

Tertiary Schools 

1. Hwa Chong International School
2. ITE College Central
3. ITE College East
4. ITE College West
5. Jurong Pioneer Junior College 
6. Nanyang Junior College
7. St Andrew's Junior College
8. Victoria Junior College
9. Temasek Polytechnic
10. James Cook University
11. Nanyang Polytechic
12. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
13. National University of Singapore (NUS)
14. Singapore Management University (SMU) - School of Social Science
15. Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
16. Singapore Sports School
17. United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) East Campus

Other schools and institutions

1. ACS International School
2. Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN)
3. Eden School
4. German European School Singapore
5. Grace Orchard School
6. Middleton International School
7. Pathlight School
8. PSB Academy
9. Tanglin Trust School

Can you give old shoes to charity?

Yes, you can. Indeed, some shoes you want to get rid of are still in good, wearable condition and do not need to be recycled. For example, you might just be spring cleaning your closet and putting aside items you do not use anymore. If this is the case, then donating them is a good option.

You can donate them to charity shops or organisations that will distribute them to less fortunate people. However, ensure that they’re clean before you give them away. 

Conclusion

Whether it’s old kids’ shoes or adults’ shoes, let’s do our part in reducing shoe waste in Singapore. Get your kids to do their part, too, by packing up their old shoes and bringing them along when you drop the shoes off at recycling bins or donation points. 

And if you’re looking for good quality children’s shoes in Singapore, check out Two Little Feet. We’re an online kids’ shoe store with a home trial option so that you can pick shoes with the right fit for your child.