Taking care of Mother Earth on her day

Molly Shore

Grungy old sneakers have a new life awaiting them.

During the city’s Earth Day celebration Saturday, and through the

end of May, the Burbank Recycle Center is accepting old shoes in

conjunction with Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe Program, Recycling Specialist

Hope McAloon said.

“We’re trying to collect 5,000 pair of sneakers or tennis shoes

before June 1,” McAloon said. “Nike has a program in which 25 cities

across the country are doing this.”

Any brand of shoe is accepted. They will be recycled to create

Nike Grind, a material used in the construction of new athletic

surfaces like soccer fields, basketball courts and running tracks,

McAloon said.

“If people bring their sneakers, we’re offering compact

fluorescent light bulbs, tote bags or coffee mugs, while they last,”

McAloon said.

Earth Day activities at the recycle center begin at 1 p.m.

Saturday with a compost workshop. A free composter or worm bin will

be given to any city resident who wants one, McAloon said. A

composter is mainly intended for grass and leaves, McAloon said.

“The worm bin gets rid of food waste and turns out to be great for

potting soil,” McAloon said.

Earth Day activities are also planned at Stough Canyon Nature

Center and Wildwood Park, beginning with a noon cleanup on the trails

near the center and in the park, Recreation Supervisor Carol Mercado

said.

At 1:30 p.m., a children’s nature hike will begin at the center.

A recyclable crafts program, using items like plastic bottles to

make bird feeders, starts at 2:45 p.m. at the center, and will cost

$1, Mercado said.

Reptiles will be brought to the center, and snakes, toads and

frogs native to the area that live at the nature center will be part

of the live animal display, Mercado said. Hometown Buffet and Handy

Market are donating refreshments, including water, juice and cookies,

Mercado said.