Recycling Program

Our Recycling Program is Here!

Now your much-loved boots, clogs and sandals can continue their merry journey to be recycled or sold second-hand.

Introducing our Recycling Program

Do you have some Merry People Boots you no longer wear? Our brand new Recycling Program is the perfect sustainable solution! Merry People has partnered with Save Our Soles and Save the Children so you can donate your Merry People shoes to be recycled into mats and flooring, or sold second-hand at Save the Children, with all proceeds going to raise vital funds for children across the globe.

Meet our Partners

Save Our Soles
Save our Soles creates recycled flooring and mats using collected and donated shoes and tyres. With 20 billion shoes thrown away each year, SOS have already saved 500,000+ from landfill. A big supporter of Merry People, SOS has recycled our unsellable boots for years, and now we are excited to be broadening the partnership.

Save the Children
Save the Children believe in a circular economy and extending the life of donated items with vital funds going towards building a fairer, safer world for every child. In 2024 alone, Save the Children reached 1.27 million people across Australia and around the world.

How to recycle?

It’s super easy! Just give your boots, clogs or sandals a clean and drop them into our first ever store in Melbourne, or at one of our various Save the Children drop spots across Australia.

1. Retail Store

Step into our first ever retail store at Shop 2/11 Manchester Lane, Melbourne and speak to our merry team about dropping off your boots in our recycle bin.

2. Save the Children Op Shops

There are eight selected Save the Children Op Shop locations across Australia where you can find Merry People bins to drop off your boots, clogs and sandals.

VIC

7b Station Street, Frankston
181 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
292 High Street, Northcote

NSW

252 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
283-285 Keira Street, Wollongong

QLD

99 Bay Terrace, Wynnum

SA

8 Rankine Street, Strathalbyn

WA

600 Stirling Highway, Mosman Park

What happens next?

All boots, clogs and sandals will then be sorted and either recycled or donated to be resold second hand depending on their condition:

Wearable Boots: If your boots are still in good condition, they can be re-sold through Save the Children Op Shops to find a home in another part of our Merry People community.
Unwearable Boots: If your boots have seen too much wear and tear, they will be collected by Save our Soles and recycled into gym matting and retail flooring.

Want To Know More? Here’s some FAQs

My boots are still in great condition but I want them to be recycled. What should I do?

That’s great! We accept boots that are in wearable and unwearable condition. A team will then sort through the boots to determine which will be sold in Save the Children Op Shops or recycled through Save our Soles.

I’ve lost one of the shoes and only have one – can I still drop it off?

Yes! Recycling doesn’t need to be done in pairs. Any boot helps!

I don’t live near a location, can I mail my old boots to you?

Unfortunately no, we just have the Merry People retail store in Melbourne CBD and the eight Save the Children drop-off locations across Australia. If none of these work for you, we encourage you to drop them off at any local op shop to share the love anyway!

Do I get a discount/benefit if I drop off old shoes?

No, but you definitely get all the good feels, knowing your boots will be going to a great home or recycled into matting that reduces our environmental footprint and contributes to a circular economy. How good is that?

Can I donate my Merry People shoes in a Save the Children Op Shop not listed above?

Not yet unfortunately. As our Recycling Program is brand new, we can only accept shoes in select Save the Children stores. Stay tuned for more locations to be added in the near future.

Where are the donation bins at the Save the Children Op Shops?

There are eight recycle bins across various Save the Children Op Shops. These are clearly marked as Merry People donation points but If you can’t find them, please ask a friendly volunteer and they’ll point you in the right direction.

What condition should my Merry People shoes be in to donate?

As all shoes will be carefully sorted by our Save the Children volunteers, we ask that shoes are clean and in pairs. Shoes in good condition will be sold second-hand within the Save the Children Op Shop network and shoes that are past their best will be recycled through Save our Soles.

Can I donate shoes that aren’t Merry People branded?

Of course! Our friendly volunteers welcome all donations of clean shoes in pairs at our Save the Children Op Shops. We just ask that only Merry People products are placed in the Merry People x Save the Children in-store collection points.

My local Save the Children Op Shop has some pre-loved Merry People boots but no donation bins. Why is that?

All donations to our network of op shops are sorted in our warehouse by our team and then distributed to where they are needed most. So you might find a colourful pair close to home soon!

Are Save the Children purchases of Merry People products covered under warranty?

These pairs have already been set free to another life, they may be well-loved boots that are older than 12 months, or items with minor flaws that have already been deemed unsaleable under our warranty standards through official channels.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Not ready to recycle just yet? Give your boots a quick refresh with our Care Kit, designed to clean, restore, and protect your Merry People Boots.

Care Kit

Sale price$29.95 AUD

Ready to Recycle?

From Bobbi to Billie – here are the styles you can send back once they’ve lived their adventure: Bobbi, Tully, Andie, Billie, Fergie, Darcy, Kids, Lochie.

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