Recycling Unwanted Bicycles (why, how and where!)
Only around 10% of bicycles in England are used regularly, the rest just lay in sheds and garages, falling into disrepair. Yet the average bike lasts 10 years, and can easily be recycled (most are 20% metal and 40% rubber).
Bikes are also one of the few items of ‘our trash’ that are good to send to Africa (unlike laptops and dirty clothing that they don’t want). But bikes provide cheap effective transport, without clogging up landfills or causes toxic fire hazards).
Obviously ensure unwanted bikes are safe (get a local bike shop to check the brakes and tyres). Unless donating to an organisation that will do this for you, or recycle parts for scrap.
Why donate unwanted bicycles?
If you bought a bike then decided the novelty has worn off, don’t just let it sit in your garage. A good working bicycle can be a life-changing way of getting around, as well as keeping waste out of landfills.
Obviously working bikes have to be safe, but they can help students reach school if it’s miles away (especially abroad) and can also mean that children have more energy to learn, on arrival.
Farmers abroad can increase income as much as 35% by using bikes to reach the market, and refugees who can’t afford cars or even public transport, can use them to find education and work.
Around the world, around 15 million bikes end up on dumps each year. Yet bikes are brilliant! It’s like throwing away 15 million gold nuggets, each one able to transform a life and provide carbon-free transport.
The Bristol Bike Projects (trains people to do up bikes)
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.
The Bike Project (drop-off points to help refugees)
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 transport for low income riders)
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.
This charity particularly welcomes adult mountain bikes and hybrids, as they are suitable for unmade African roads. As are city and commuter cycles.
Where to donate inner bicycle tubes
You can recycle inner tubes sat Velorim (600 sites nationwide – you can also drop off tyres and li-ion batteries).
If your bike is not safe or fit for donation, donate metal to scrap yards and tyres at your local council (tyre waste if a fire hazard).
