SportSG and Partners Apologize for Shoe Recycling Project Lapse

SINGAPORE – On Feb. 20, Sport Singapore (SportSG) and its partners issued a public apology following an investigation by Reuters that revealed a significant lapse in their shoe recycling project. The initiative, which aimed to recycle old shoes into materials for building playgrounds and running tracks, was found to have sent some shoes to be sold in Indonesia instead.

Partners in the project, including Decathlon, Dow, Standard Chartered, B.T. Sports, and Alba-WH, acknowledged the issue in a joint statement. They expressed regret over the unauthorised sale of the shoes, clarifying that corrective steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The project, launched in 2020, aimed to recycle the soles of 300,000 pairs of shoes, collected at over 30 locations across Singapore. Alba-WH was responsible for managing the collection process, while B.T. Sports oversaw the conversion of shoes into rubber granules.

However, an investigation revealed that a subcontractor, Yok Impex, mishandled the collection bins, leading to some shoes being extracted for resale rather than recycling. Alba-WH has since ceased using Yok Impex’s services.

Despite the setback, SportSG and its partners reaffirm their commitment to the recycling program, which has already processed 10,000kg of shoes for infrastructure projects in Singapore, including the Kallang Football Hub and Jurong West Tennis Centre.

While steps are being taken to ensure the integrity of the process going forward, the public may remain cautious about donating, as some feel let down by the project’s oversight.