Most childhood playgrounds are made up of swing sets and monkey bars, but thanks to donations from LSU students and the campus’ sustainability department, some Baton Rouge playgrounds will now be made of recycled shoes.
Beginning today, recycling bins for old shoes will be placed in The 459 Commons and The 5 dining halls, residential halls and the UREC. The shoes will be used to construct pavements for local children’s playgrounds. The collection — sponsored by Nike Grind, Residential Life and Campus Sustainability — will last until Dec. 12.
Nike Grind is a division of the Nike Better World campaign that supports the design of quality products through sustainable methods, according to nikegrind.com.
Campus Sustainability manager Sarah Temple said ResLife came up with the idea of the shoe recycling program to support the department’s goal to make LSU a “greener, more sustainable” university. Through the program, the on-campus parties involved said they hope to raise the university’s overall recycling rate to 50 percent or more — a 10 percent increase from the current recycling rate.
“With a concerted university-wide effort, I believe we can meet this goal,” Temple said. “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve recycling and educate others on the importance of sustainability.”
In recent months, LSU recycling rates have reached 70 percent or more because of on-campus construction, she said.
Temple said the new campaign has a “feel good” aspect to it because some of the shoes directly benefit local children. Nike Grind will turn the leftover materials into sports courts.
In addition to shoe recycling, Campus Sustainability increased campus battery recycling locations and held several electronic waste recycling collection days since August. Temple said these efforts have helped the university collect several tons of e-waste.
Mass communication junior Brittany Little said waste has become an increasing problem on campus, and she’s glad to see the university taking strides to resolve the issue.
“LSU’s taking the right steps to improve our campus, and they’re doing so in a creative way,” Little said. “But the next step should be to donate these shoes to people who really need it like TOMS does — our playgrounds can survive without it.”
During the LSU football game against the University of Arkansas on Saturday, the sustainability department hosted its first “Get Caught Green-Handed” contest to further spread its message of sustainable practices beyond the LSU students, faculty and staff.
Temple said it served as an opportunity for game attendees and tailgaters to win a Les Miles-signed football if they take a selfie while recycling and tag “LSU Sustainability” on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.