We’ve been making tracks over the last year – expanding our Inner West Bike Hub shopfront, securing a new van to help with transportation of donated bikes, and continuing our good work through the pandemic. But did you know that we’re also helping drive a circular economy?
Through our volunteer program, we repair old bikes that would otherwise have gone to landfill and donate them to people in need in the community. We also repurpose and rebuild some of these donated bikes for sale at the Inner West Bike Hub. Thanks to our volunteers and talented mechanics we were able to repair approximately 500 bikes for donations and sales.
Based on a European Cyclists’ Federation article, approximately 100kg of CO2 goes into the production of a bike. By repairing and reusing 300 bikes last year, we saved approximately 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
We also ensure that scraps, bikes or parts that can no longer be used are broken down and sorted for recycling.
Aluminium and steel are taken to Manhari Metals who sort and export it around the world – including the biggest manufacturing giants, China and India. The scrap metal is then reused to make vehicles, containers, bridges, tools, and more.
In the last year we recycled 3 tonnes of steel and 0.3 tonnes of aluminum. Based on an article by Recycling Magazine you save approximately 1.67 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every tonne of steel you recycle. And Alupro, an aluminium recycling expert says that by recycling 1 tonne of aluminium saves 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This means over the last year we’ve saved over 7.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions by recycling steel and aluminium scraps, bikes and parts that are no longer usable.
We take recyclable rubber from bike tyres to Tyrecyle who reuse them for road construction, athletic and playground surfaces, tile adhesives, matting surfaces, and as an alternative energy resource for fossil fuels. We’ve taken over 400kg of tyres to Tyrecycle over the last year – saving them from going to landfill.
You can do your bit to help out too – become a volunteer, donate old bikes you no longer need, buy a secondhand bike instead of a new one, or simply opt for your bike instead of the car on your next trek to the market.
Become a volunteer
Our volunteer sessions run twice a week. It’s never too late to jump in on the fun. You don’t need to sign up or experience to start volunteering, just the motivation to learn. Visit our website to find out more about our volunteer program.
Donate
If you have any bikes, parts, accessories, tyres, tubes or event bike tools you no longer need, you can donate them. Visit our website to find out more about what you can donate.