Eco-Cycle Joins Pedestrian Shops Earth Day Shoe Drive Partnership

Eco-Cycle, one of the largest non-profit recyclers in the USA, has joined with etown, the popular weekly radio show, and Boulders Center For Resource Conservation (CRC) to support the Pedestrian Shops Annual Earth Day Shoe Drive.

(PRWEB) April 7, 2005 -- The Pedestrian Shops, the Boulder, Colo., comfortable shoe retailer, has recycled over 16,000 pairs of shoes for reuse by people in need during its shoe Drives. Eco-Cycles participation allows The Pedestrian to also collect athletic shoes that are no longer suitable for re-use to be re-cycled into athletic surfaces such as playgrounds and tracks.

The Pedestrian Shops opened shortly after the original Earth Day in 1970. It has been conducting Thanksgiving and Earth Day shoe drives to benefit people in need for 17 years. This Aprils Shoe Drive will be The Pedestrians 34th, it runs for 25, days from April 8 through May 1st.

New and unloved or slightly used footwear may be dropped off at either the Pedestrian Shops at 1425 Pearl on Boulders Downtown Mall or its location in the Village Shopping Center facing Folsom between Arapahoe and Canyon.

As an added incentive, from Friday April 8th through Sunday May 1st, customers who bring in a pair of reusable mens, womens, or childrens shoes can also receive a 10% discount on any pair of new shoes, sandals or clogs, including footwear already sale priced.

Richard Polk, owner of the Pedestrian Shops said, A purchase isn't required. We welcome shoes dropped off by customers who arent shopping but just want to give a pair of shoes they dont use to someone less fortunate." The recycled footwear is donated to clients of the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, the First Presbyterian Churchs Deacons Closet, and other local assistance organizations.

The Pedestrian Shops will also be collecting used shoes at the Center for Resource Conservation's 3rd Annual Earth Day 5k Run/Walk on Sunday April 17.

The CRC ED5K is known as a model for low waste-creating large events. The Pedestrian Shops participation will be part of a waste reduction element that provides an opportunity for serious runners who, because of injury sensitivity, retire shoes much earlier than persons using them for more general use, to donate their shoes for reuse. Race details can be found on the CRC web site www.conservationcenter.org.

Shoes will also be collected at the etown B'earthday Show at the Historic Boulder Theater on Thursday April 21st from 6-9pm. B'earthday commemorates the first etown taping on Earth day in 1991and will feature Daryl Hannahs appearance to receive a special e-chievment award for her years of environmental advocacy. Musical guests for the live taping are John Gorka and Wanda Jackson. Wanda Jackson has been called the "Queen of Rock and Roll" having a history that includes working with folks like Elvis Presley. For additional Bearthday information, visit www.etown.org. home of: music.ideas.community.

Shoes The Pedestrian collects at the CRC ED5k and the etown show that do not meet the re-use criteria of local charities will be sent to Eco-Cycle's Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) for recycling. Eco-Cycle's CHaRM is subsidized by the City of Boulder and regularly accepts athletic shoes that do not contain metal for recycling into athletic surfaces such as playgrounds and tracks. More information on Eco-Cycle's CHaRM is available at www.ecocycle.org. Due to limited space, shoes that do not meet the re-use criteria of local charities will not be collected by the Pedestrian Shops at their store locations.

Polk explained, we are very excited about the additional shoes that will be made available for re-use this year due to our partnership with the CRC and etown. The opportunity to promote eco-cycles ChaRM program at the CRC and etown events is also pretty exciting ---after all its Earth Day"

At both the CRC ED5K and the etown show coupons for the 10% Pedestrian Shops discount will be given to people donating shoes.

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