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Every year hundreds of thousands of shoes are discarded in Singapore - either sent to landfill or incinerated releasing toxic fumes into the air. And it goes without saying that at some point, nearly every pair of shoes worn every day, or several times a week, especially in a humid climate like Singapore, will need to be discarded. With flip flops and slippers, it's inevitable that at some point in time they might be at the end of their useful life for you.
Your Guide To Recycling Shoes, Clothes, Textiles in Singapore
You may have heard of the ActiveSG shoe recycling program. For just over 3 years in Singapore, you could donate rubberised shoes you no longer used, they were recycled into new materials such as running tracks. Unfortunately, 3 years was all it took to create a big enough stockpile that they had to cease collecting shoes. The program no longer accepts shoes for recycling in Singapore. You can read more about it here: https://recyclopedia.sg/resources/running-shoe-donation-drive
So can any shoes be recycled in Singapore? It depends on what condition they are in. But if you're talking end-of-life shoes that no one will want to wear again, then unfortunately they will have to go to landfill. Read more here: https://recyclopedia.sg/articles/can-shoes-be-recycled-in-singapore
But if they still have life in them yet, there may be someone who can use them. Check out this comprehensive guide from the team at Zerrin for lots of options: https://zerrin.com/donate-recycle-clothes-singapore-ultimate-guide/ And back to the team at Recyclopedia for their list of all the places you can donate unwanted shoes and textiles in Singapore here: https://recyclopedia.sg/search?q=shoes
If you're about to Donate Old Shoes in Singapore...
Then take a moment to think about how long they lasted you and if you can make more conscious decisions with your next shoe purchases so they last longer, preventing old shoes from becoming waste too soon.
At Indosole, we pride ourselves on producing shoes that last a lot longer than many on the market - and this comes down to our revolutionary SETT technology where we recycle used tires and sneaker soles into new, super durable soles.
It would close the loop for our brand if we were able to recycle all Indosoles, but unfortunately, the cost of transporting used sandals back to Indonesia, both in terms of dollars but also emissions, does not equate when there is ample waste tires, rubber and recycled nylons and textiles in Indonesia, where we manufacture.
We work closely with Sungai Watch and have so far recycled 1.8 tons of recycled sandal foam collected from rivers in Indonesia into new soles (the Riversole range).
Indosole Flip Flops, Slippers, Slides, and Sandals are made to last. The recycled tire soles are so hard to break down - you can wear them for years without so much as rubbing the tread down. The midsole is made with natural rubber - giving you a cushioned comfort you just can't get from synthetic rubber, and the top sole is made with a recycled materials and a unique tread to ensure you don't slip out on those humid, raining days in Singapore.
To top it off, there are no plugs underneath - that traditional 'breaking point' on old style flip flop designs. We even give you a 12-month warranty because we guarantee they're not going to fall apart anytime soon.
