Sole sharing: Used items kept out of landfill with recycling program

View larger image Ray Clark, Frederick County Public Works employee, packages shoes for recycling at the Middletown Compactor and Recycling center off U.S. 11. Rich Cooley /Daily Recommend This Print This Get E-mail News Alerts Buy Photos/Page Reprints * Breaking News If local news is breaking and you know about it: * Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos View larger image Nathan Durbin, a community work release inmate from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, helps load shoes to be recycled. Rich Cooley /Daily

By Josette Keelor -- jkeelor@nvdaily.com

MIDDLETOWN -- Shoes are essential to everyday life in the United States, but they're also something Americans go through pretty quickly.

Children outgrow shoes within a few months, and even adults must trade out certain types of footwear frequently, because soles wear out and fabric tears.

Whether you're thinking of tossing out your shoes because they're old, worn out or outdated, the Save-a-Sole program in Frederick and Clarke counties hopes you will recycle them to help residents of Cameroon, in western Africa.

"It gives the shoe cobblers there a job," says Gloria Puffinburger, solid waste manager for Frederick County Public Works.

They can use almost any old shoe, in any condition, she says, as long as they are clean and come to the program in pairs.

Save-a-Sole, which began three years ago, has been growing with each year, she says. On average the program collects 10 to 12 tons of shoes a year, she says.

Last year the Frederick County Department of Public Works added the ReThreads Textile Recycling Program, hoping to encourage residents to recycle gently-used fabrics to a good cause.

"Clothing is probably the oldest commodity that we collect in this country," Puffinburger says. The textiles also go to Cameroon, she says.

Clothing isn't all she sees, though.

"We do get a lot of luggage. Luggage, actually is in good condition," she says.

The program also accepts bed linens, draperies, towels, comforters, throw rugs and even stuffed animals, which she says can be used as teaching tools in African missions.

Like shoes, stuffed animals are something children outgrow, Puffinburger says.

"So this is a good opportunity for them to go to a mission school and be loved again," she says.

All items must be clean and dry, she stresses, and she encourages those donating to wrap items in waterproof bags in case of bad weather throughout the shipment process. Rugs must be clean, dry, rolled, tied and bagged.

Hangers cannot be used, nor can carpet, undergarments, pillows, mattresses, pads or diapers.

About five to six hours per week are dedicated to collecting shoes and clothing, Puffinburger says. A trustee from the Community Inmate Workforce assists the Public Works' part-time staffer in bringing all materials from collection sites around Frederick County to the regional landfill.

Tim Kufum, of MUSA Trading Service in Manassas, collects the textiles and shoes from the landfill to sort items before sending them to Africa, she says. Originally of Cameroon, Kufum wants to help the people of his home country, Puffinburger says.

Collection boxes for dropping off shoes or textiles are available at the county landfill as well as the Greenwood, Clear Brook, Albin, Double Toll Gate and Middletown recycling locations. The Total Image & Working Man's Store in Winchester, Mount Carmel Baptist Church and the Frederick County Animal Shelter also collect goods, says Puffinburger, as well as many area schools and local Boy Scouts of America troops.

Including fuel and labor, the costs of operating the Save-a-Sole program and ReThreads program is $729 a month, according to Puffinburger.

"We've been really happy with the participation," she says. Normally, all of these items might end up in a landfill.

"So why not pass it along to someone who can use it?" she says. "It's another form of recycling."