Instead of clogging up the local landfill with your old kit, here are some ethical ways to give it a new lease of life.

Old trainers

The Nike Reuse-A-Shoe programme has been going since 1993, and accepts all brands of trainers. Just take them to your local drop off centre and they will transform them into ‘Nike Grind’ material, which can then be used for various sporting surfaces such as padding under basketball courts, or synthetic tennis courts, playground surfacing or running tracks.

Old bikes

Got a rusting old heap in the back garden? Then Re-Cycle will take it off your hands and ship it to Africa, where they can be used by local health workers or even as ambulances in remote parts of Namibia. They’ll also take anything bike related, including tools, parts and manuals. The only downside is that the charity is based in Colchester and doesn’t have the resources to arrange collections, but they have a handy directory to help you find a local bike charity in your area.

Old sports clothing

Your local charity shop will welcome old sports kit that’s clean and still usable, or if it’s beyond redemption then take it to a textile bank where they’ll reprocess it. Or perhaps a nifty bit of sewing, patching or re-waterproofing will do the trick, your local outdoors shop should supply Gore Tex repair kits and waterproof washes.

Got any good tips for extending the life of your outdoors kit? Let us know in our comments section.

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