9.15.2003 ET

(CSRwire) BALTIMORE, MD — The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and Nike today announced they are re-lacing their partnership to recycle used athletic shoes, expanding the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program to every state in the continental United States. The announcement was made today at NRC’s Annual Congress & Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, where more than 700 recycling professionals are expected to attend.

In year two of the partnership, NRC and Nike anticipate all 32 of last year’s participating recycling organizations to return as well as 50 new recycling programs, including the partnership’s first curbside Nike Reuse-A-Shoe recycling effort in Contra Costa County, California. All of the participating organizations will commit to collecting a minimum of 5,000 pairs of worn-out athletic shoes in the coming year.

National Recycling Coalition Executive Director Kate Krebs said, “Since the partnership began, the National Recycling Coalition and Nike Reuse-A-Shoe have collected thousands of pairs of athletic shoes, which otherwise would have gone in to landfill. We’re excited to be able to offer this unique recycling opportunity to every state in the continental U.S. through participating community recycling organizations.”

After registering with NRC and Nike, recycling organizations collect and store old athletic shoes in a way that best suits the organization’s needs. When enough shoes have been collected to fill a 27-foot trailer (approximately 5,000 pairs), Nike arranges for the shoes to be picked up by Roadway and shipped to its Reuse-A-Shoe recycling facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, free of charge. The National Recycling Coalition and Nike will also provide each organization with communications tools to promote its collection effort, including customizable radio spots, media releases, posters, print ads and more. Two $25,000 grants will be awarded to participating recycling organizations each year.

“This is a great way for people to get their old shoes back in the game,” said Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Manager Beth Farnum. “Through the help of the National Recycling Coalition, we take back used athletic shoes of any brand and grind them up and give them new life as athletic surfaces, which we donate to help get kids active and give them the means to do it.”

The Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program is unique to the athletic footwear industry, and is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2003. The Oregon-based company recycles approximately 1-2 million pairs of post-consumer and defective shoes each year and has helped build more than 150 sports surfaces around the world.

In California, the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority will add collection bags for worn-out athletic shoes to its successful curbside recycling program. "We are dedicated to providing residents with the most environmentally sound and cost-effective solid waste management program," said Janet Schneider, Executive Director for the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority. "Adding the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program component is a fun and visible way to promote and expand our curbside reuse efforts."

The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition (CRC) last year collected approximately 7,000 pairs of shoes. The program helped increase community awareness and appreciation for recycling throughout Connecticut, especially with students. "The Nike Reuse-A-Shoe collection program brought new energy to our state-wide recycling program," said Evelyn Golden, Vice President of the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition. "Engaging area schools in the collection efforts was a big hit, especially in Middletown. The students’ enthusiasm amplified the program and helped them understand the importance of recycling.”


About the National Recycling Coalition
Founded in 1978, the National Recycling Coalition, Inc. (NRC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization representing all the diverse interests committed to the common goal of maximizing recycling to achieve the benefits of resource conservation, solid waste reduction, environmental protection, energy conservation and social and economic development. Its 4,000 members include recycling and environmental organizations; large and small businesses; federal, state and local governments; and individuals. The NRC is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of recycling. It also promotes source reduction, composting and reuse by providing technical information, education, training, outreach and advocacy services to its members. For additional information about the NRC, please visit www.nrc-recycle.org.

About Nike Reuse-A-Shoe
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe is an integral part of NikeGO – Nike’s long-term commitment to promote healthier lifestyles for kids through physical activity. Since its inception in 1993, the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program has recycled more than 15 million pairs of shoes, and has helped donate over
150 athletic courts, tracks, fields and playground surfaces to communities around the world.
For more information about Nike Reuse-A-Shoe and NikeGO, visit www.nikereuseashoe.com and www.nikego.com.


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Individuals that would like to participate in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program outside of one of the 80+participating organizations for 2004 can send in their shoes directly to the Nike Recycling Center in Wilsonville, Oregon, or they can drop their shoes off at any of the 11 Niketowns in the U.S. or at participating retailers. They can also participate in a collection set up by one of the organizations participating in the national Nike Reuse-A-Shoe expansion by mailing their shoes to the contact and address listed on the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe website.

A complete list of the organizations and their addresses are listed at:
www.nrc-recycle.org and www.nikereuseashoe.com

For more information please contact: