How to Recycle a Bicycle
In the United States, almost 15 million new bicycles are sold every year. Unfortunately, that "out with the old, in with the new" mentality means more discarded bikes appear in landfills. Before you toss that unused four-speed into the garbage, learn how easy it is to recycle it instead.
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Instructions
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Sell it. The best way to recycle a bicycle is to get it back into circulation, and if you can make some money doing so that's even better. Post the bike online (like on Craigslist) or organize a yard sale to see if there is any interest. If it does get sold, consider donating the profits to a local green charity.
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Donate it. There are several programs nationwide that accept bicycle donations for charity, and the donation would be tax-deductible. It's better for the environment to find a local organization that recycles bikes, but if there isn't one in your area, some programs will accept donations from around the country. Recycle-A-Bicycle, for instance, is based in New York City but will accept any usable bikes mailed to their offices.
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Break it down. If you're having trouble finding a place in your area that recycles whole bicycles and the cost of shipping one is too much, consider breaking down the bike into parts. Aluminum can be sold for scrap since it is a popular metal in furniture-making, and ground up tires make excellent composting material. Additional metal parts left from the bike can be recycled regularly with cans and bottles.
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Get artistic. There are many creative ways to use bicycle parts other than traditional recycling. Inner tubes, once woven, can be used as webbing for chairs and bags. The chains can be turned into designs for picture frames or even belts. For example, Resource Revival has turned everyday bikes into clocks, bottle openers, business card holders, bracelets, and tea light holders.
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Go international. While shipping overseas isn't the most environmentally friendly option, a lot of times the donated bicycles make big differences in locals' lives. The Chicago-based Working Bikes Cooperative (WBC) often ships unused bikes and parts to areas in need like Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Bike-powered water pumps aid electricity-poor countries, and AIDS orphans are being professionally trained to fix bikes and transform them into profitable cargo carriers.
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Tips & Warnings
Before getting rid of your old bike, consider taking a class in bike maintenance and refurbishing. Many local bike clubs offer these for free or low rates.
Make sure the bike is in decent shape before donating it. Unusable bikes that cannot be repaired will not be accepted by most organizations.
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