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PERRYSBURG -- Don’t toss out those shoes—reuse! Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is accepting old soles for their shoe collection drive, which kicks off Tuesday until Sept. 16.

The club encourages area residents to bring in their old kicks, previously destined for the overcrowded landfills, to the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses in support of environmental awareness.

"Owens Community College is proud to provide an outlet in which area residents can donate their worn-out shoes, previously bound for dumpsters and landfills," said Brad Fields, Owens Environmental Club President. "I encourage individuals to help in supporting the environment by dropping off their shoes."

All types of shoes will be accepted as part of the collection drive. Donated shoes will either be reused or processed and recycled into material used in synthetic turf, playgrounds, running tracks, tennis courts, rubber mats and filling for car insulation.

At the collection drive’s conclusion, all shoes will be presented to Erek Hansen of Curtice to assist with his personal goal of promoting environmental conservation and awareness. Earlier this year, the Environmental Club presented over 200 denim materials to Hansen as part of a collection drive initiative with the "COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN. ®" program.

Last year, the ten-year-old collected 4,154 denim items. 

For more information about the collection drive, or to donate, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.