An air-based automated material recycling system for postconsumer footwear products

► 95% of the 20 billion pairs of shoes consumed annually are landfilled. ► Recycling of shoes is challenging due to the complex mixture of materials and construction technologies. ► An air-based recycling system is presented that separates shoes into four district material streams. ► For certain categories of shoes rubber yield and purity can be in excess of 85%. ► Economic analysis and study of material applications show significant commercial potential for the presented air-based material recycling system.