It’s estimated that only 10% of bicycles owned in England are used regularly, the rest just lay in sheds and garages, falling into disrepair. Yet the average bike lasts 10 years, and then can easily be recycled (most are around 20% metal and 40% rubber).
This pocket wallet (made from bicycle tubes) is soft and flexible for your trouser pocket, and features a Velcro flap to contain a few coins and bank notes, plus a slide pocket for a credit card.
If you have an old rusty bicycle or a good bicycle that you never use, don’t let it languish in the shed, nor send it to landfill. You can recycle good bikes to help others, and also recycle parts like inner tubes and tires. This post covers how to do it, and where!
Bicycles are pretty eco-friendly in themselves. And you can not only pass good safe bikes onto those who can’t afford to buy them. But bikes are one of the few items that are quite good to send to Africa, as they provide cheap effective transport (unlike sending electronic waste, that just clogs up landfills and causes poisonous fire hazards).
Obviously it’s important to ensure any unwanted bikes are safe (get a local bike shop to check the brakes and tyres etc). Many communities have projects to refurbish bikes for people who need affordable transport (often say refugees). Instead of gathering dust in your shed and going rusty, an unused bike to change someone’s life.
If you are thinking of ‘recycling your bike’ because it needs repairs, considering supporting a local bike mechanic, rather than buying new again. Most small bike shop owners are passionate about what they do. And can not only fix bikes, but likely know how to repair and pass them on, if you don’t want yours anymore.
The Bristol Bike Project takes donated bikes, then trains local people to repair them or use parts to ‘build-a-bike’ that they then own. They also offer workshop space and tools, for people to repair bikes themselves, once they have the skills.
How to Recycle Your Bicycle
Instead of just throwing old bikes in the shed or taking them to landfill, first assess the condition of your bike. It may well be fine to ride, with a few minor adjustments. A good bike shop can adjust the height of pedals and saddles, check the brakes, add new tyres (or pump them up) and give your bike a beauty makeover.
If you are going to hand over a bike, remove dirt and grease and mud, this makes it easier for organisation to assess the bike, and pass it on. Also remove personal stickers etc for a fresh neutral look.
Search online for a bike recycling organisation. Also contact your council, as many will collect old bikes, as will scrap metal yards. Many cities run specific bike donation projects, just type your local and add ‘bike recycling’ in the search box.
The Bike Project has drop-off points nationwide, where refurbished bikes are passed to refugees, to help them get to work. LifeCycle lets you donate bikes in Bristol and Derby.
ReCycle provides free non-polluting transport to help people to get to work or school. Find a local drop-off if you have a bike in the garage doing nothing.
Recycling Bicycle Parts
If your bike is not safe or fit for donation, you can still dismantle it and recycle the parts. Metal frames can be donated to scrap metal yards that can recycle the aluminium frames or steel forks. Tyres can be recycled at your local council (tyre waste is a fire hazard).
You can recycle inner bicycle tubes at Velorim (600 sites nationwide). Just drop off old tubes (plus tyres and li-ion batteries) to stop thousands of tubes going to landfill. These are then made into a new rubber for industrial use.
Accessories From Recycled Bicycle Tubes
Cycle of Good is a fantastic company that makes chic black small accessories, from discarded inner bicycle tubes. It’s not always good to send our junk (laptops etc) to developing countries, as it just creates pollution and hazards at landfills.
The bike tubes provide employment in Malawi for 500 people who complete a 2-year diploma in design, using old sewing machines donated from the UK. Then proceeds are used from the sale of these made goods to support around 2000 vulnerable children, at any one time. In a country where often if you don’t earn, you don’t eat.
The handy key ring fob includes a quality brass popper to open out to attach to a bag or belt, for security. The sturdy ring can hold many keys, and features a laser-engraved logo on the back.
If you fancy supporting these Malawi crafters a little more, you can add a recycled coffee sack tote to your order (also as a lunch bag or even a Christmas stocking!)
