We often think of trainers as a positive investment – perhaps as part of a health kick or to keep up a running habit. But once they’ve outlived their usefulness, they don’t just disappear: a worn-out pair can sit in landfill for up to 1,000 years before it fully breaks down. With billions of pairs of running shoes produced and sold worldwide every year, what happens to them once we’re finished with them is a real environmental problem.
Now there’s a better option available in Chichester, and it’s down to one of our own volunteers. Rosa has ensured that locals can recycle their old trainers through Jog On – a national campaign on a mission to keep a million pairs of running shoes out of landfill.
How it started
Rosa’s interest in local sustainability led her to an event called ‘Wasted Opportunity’ at the University of Chichester back in January, where she heard Jog On founder Tony Piedade talk about the campaign. Of everything discussed that day, Jog On stood out to her as the initiative CCDT could realistically run with – simple, genuinely useful, and a natural fit for an organisation built around community spaces.
Rosa took the initiative to set up a collection box and we gave her the go ahead to place it in the Pavilion earlier this week. It’s a great example of what happens when one volunteer with an idea takes the steps to make it real.
Why this matters
Jog On estimates that around 33 million pairs of running shoes end up in landfill every year. Their mix of foam, rubber, mesh and synthetic materials means they don’t break down easily and can take decades, if not centuries, to disappear. At the same time, millions of people around the world could make good use of trainers that still have plenty of wear left in them. Jog On exists to close that gap.
How Jog On works
Once your shoes are collected, the Jog On team takes over:
- They sort every pair, making sure shoes are properly paired up and tied together at the laces
- They inspect each pair and assess condition – shoes with life left in them are redistributed, while those that are genuinely end-of-life are disposed of responsibly rather than just thrown away
- They work with logistics and distribution partners to get shoes to people who need them, reaching destinations around the world
What shoes can you bring?
Any running shoes or trainers you no longer want. Jog On accepts well-loved pairs, as long as there’s still some life left in them. If you’ve been hanging onto a pair at the back of the wardrobe waiting for the right moment to let them go, this is it.
Where to drop them off
Head to the Pavilion, Connolly Way, Graylingwell Park, Chichester, PO19 6WD, and look out for Rosa’s Jog On collection box. The Pavilion is open Monday to Saturday and is home to a fitness studio, therapy rooms and a community café overlooking the park – so if you’re passing through anyway, bring your old trainers along.
One small step, a real impact
CCDT is all about creating spaces where community groups and ideas can thrive, and this is exactly that in action: one volunteer noticed a problem, found a solution that already existed, and made it happen. Thank you, Rosa. We look forward to helping transition many pairs of trainers into a new life.
So next time you’re heading to the Pavilion for a class, a coffee or a catch-up, dig out those old trainers and bring them with you.
