Greyhounds get all they can out of running shoes with program
New Lebanon School District Physical Education Department teachers have been helping students wear out sneakers in gym class for many years. Now, physical education teachers are encouraging students to get even more out of those sneakers to help the environment.
Dixie physical education teachers are sponsoring the “Got Sneakers” program at each school. Students are encouraged to bring in their old gym shoes to be recycled. Most people throw away their used sneakers every 125-200 days without ever thinking about recycling. Since sneakers are manufactured with materials that are not biodegradable, they remain in landfills up to 40 years or are incinerated, which leads to toxic chemicals in our air and soil.
The process of manufacturing sneakers produces large amounts of CO2 which contributes to the serious effects of climate change and global warming. Recycling and reusing sneakers keeps sneakers out of landfills and reduces the need for manufacturing new shoes.
Though Dixie schools receive a small reimbursement from the “Got Sneakers” program for sneakers in reusable condition, the real benefit is making sure the shoes are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. Dixie physical education teachers help students learn to stay fit and healthy every day. The “Got Sneakers” program expands physical education learning to include responsible citizenship for a lifetime.