Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
- The utility cyclist
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Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
Was just pondering this, what does everyone do with their old bike parts when they're done, literally have no use due to wear or simply irrepairable, or things like spokes, brake pads, inner tubes etc?
Up until about 15 years ago I'd have thrown certain parts in the general waste but now anything metallic is stripped off to go in a metal waste bin i then cycle down to the tip. I've even being known to waste a silly amount of time getting the metal out of those cheap all in one brake blocks. I've even thrown the rubber pads in with the tyre recycling.
Never looked it up (but am going to do now) what happens to things like carbon fibre components, are they recyclable, do bike shops and the like just bin components off into general waste, also old tubes seem to be discarded by shops into general waste when they could have the valve removed and the rubber tossed into a separate bin.
Up until about 15 years ago I'd have thrown certain parts in the general waste but now anything metallic is stripped off to go in a metal waste bin i then cycle down to the tip. I've even being known to waste a silly amount of time getting the metal out of those cheap all in one brake blocks. I've even thrown the rubber pads in with the tyre recycling.
Never looked it up (but am going to do now) what happens to things like carbon fibre components, are they recyclable, do bike shops and the like just bin components off into general waste, also old tubes seem to be discarded by shops into general waste when they could have the valve removed and the rubber tossed into a separate bin.
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Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
I saw a great pile of dead tyres outside a cycle shop, I guess it is worth recycling them
Metal is relatively easy to recycle
Metal is relatively easy to recycle
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
The utility cyclist wrote:Was just pondering this, what does everyone do with their old bike parts when they're done, literally have no use due to wear or simply irrepairable, or things like spokes, brake pads, inner tubes etc?
Up until about 15 years ago I'd have thrown certain parts in the general waste but now anything metallic is stripped off to go in a metal waste bin i then cycle down to the tip. I've even being known to waste a silly amount of time getting the metal out of those cheap all in one brake blocks. I've even thrown the rubber pads in with the tyre recycling.
Never looked it up (but am going to do now) what happens to things like carbon fibre components, are they recyclable, do bike shops and the like just bin components off into general waste, also old tubes seem to be discarded by shops into general waste when they could have the valve removed and the rubber tossed into a separate bin.
TUC in my case they go in the garage and sporadically my wife will have a go at me for keeping so much "stuff ". When it comes to nuts bolts etc I think I am a bit OCD to not letting letting anything go.
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
carbon fibre is plastic of the wrong kind, non recyclable, very much like fibre glass in that respect. East Germany at the point of reunification had a real problem with disposal of unwanted trabant body shells
NUKe
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Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
The utility cyclist wrote:
Up until about 15 years ago I'd have thrown certain parts in the general waste but now anything metallic is stripped off to go in a metal waste bin .
Think I started putting metal bike bits in a metal waste bin about 9 years ago. And while metals are collected as general recycling waste locally, I wouldn't want to risk substantial bits of metal damaging the bin wagon.
Otherwise few plastics are recycled locally, a nuisance as most containers still have to go into the general waste
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
My old spokes have gone in the garden to discourage cats,also as permanent clips on my gable end plastic covers to string xmas lights on.Some old front hubs have been secured to roof bars as cycle carriers,bombproof and cheap.
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Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
NUKe wrote:carbon fibre is plastic of the wrong kind, non recyclable, very much like fibre glass in that respect. East Germany at the point of reunification had a real problem with disposal of unwanted trabant body shells
They did find a way to recycle trabis and make park benches from the material
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
Carbon fibre can be recycled and there is a commercial market for it:
http://www.elgcf.com
http://www.jeccomposites.com/directory/ ... -fibre-ltd
https://www.compositesworld.com/columns ... -has-come-
http://www.materialsforengineering.co.u ... re/160324/
The trouble, as with many household objects, is that it's not viable on a consumer basis. There's nowhere you can take your CF bike frame, car part or whatever to have it recycled; just as there isn't for many types of plastic containers or such everyday objects as light bulbs (of tungsten, CFL or LED sorts).
http://www.elgcf.com
http://www.jeccomposites.com/directory/ ... -fibre-ltd
https://www.compositesworld.com/columns ... -has-come-
http://www.materialsforengineering.co.u ... re/160324/
The trouble, as with many household objects, is that it's not viable on a consumer basis. There's nowhere you can take your CF bike frame, car part or whatever to have it recycled; just as there isn't for many types of plastic containers or such everyday objects as light bulbs (of tungsten, CFL or LED sorts).
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
The utility cyclist wrote:Was just pondering this, what does everyone do with their old bike parts when they're done, literally have no use due to wear or simply irrepairable, or things like spokes, brake pads, inner tubes etc?
I collect the metal and periodically take it along when going to the tip. Even spokes and other small parts (bit sad really). Tyres and tubes go in the bin.
At one point I was wondering whether I could make up an entire, if rather useless, bike from all the parts I had broken or worn out. Not sure why.
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Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
Metal bits (ferrous and non-ferrous) go into my household recycling bin, up to now tubes and tyres into the normal waste 'cos I don't know what else to do with them. If I take them to my council recycling plant (along with car oil etc.) I'm told to chuck it into one of the skips along with other general waste.
Brompton, Condor Heritage, creaky joints and thinning white (formerly grey) hair
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
drossall wrote:
At one point I was wondering whether I could make up an entire, if rather useless, bike from all the parts I had broken or worn out. Not sure why.
To spray yellow and leave on the nearest roundabout when the TdF next comes to town
Cycling UK Life Member
PBP Ancien (2007)
PBP Ancien (2007)
- The utility cyclist
- Posts: 3607
- Joined: 22 Aug 2016, 12:28pm
- Location: The first garden city
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
I found this, this looks like a superb use of old inner tubes and they use the valves too!
https://www.alchemygoods.com/pages/recycling
This lady recycles all sorts of parts but cottage industry level
http://www.beerbabe.co.uk/
Here's a document about tyre recycling and how bike tyres don't come under current legislation for not putting into landfill plus the lack of any organised facilities in the UK and limited worldwide.
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/eie/waste/inf ... airers.pdf
I just think that the impact of bicycle parts and lack of recycling is a bigger issue than people realise, waste costs per cycle tyre for local authorities are estimated at 15p/each if collected in bulk according to that doc. Whilst costs are added on to buying a new car tyre for disposal and 120million motorvehicle tyres a year is massively more than cycle tyres, the amount of bike related parts going into landfill is much more than it should be yet there's nothing in place to solve/alleviate the problem.
https://www.alchemygoods.com/pages/recycling
This lady recycles all sorts of parts but cottage industry level
http://www.beerbabe.co.uk/
Here's a document about tyre recycling and how bike tyres don't come under current legislation for not putting into landfill plus the lack of any organised facilities in the UK and limited worldwide.
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/eie/waste/inf ... airers.pdf
I just think that the impact of bicycle parts and lack of recycling is a bigger issue than people realise, waste costs per cycle tyre for local authorities are estimated at 15p/each if collected in bulk according to that doc. Whilst costs are added on to buying a new car tyre for disposal and 120million motorvehicle tyres a year is massively more than cycle tyres, the amount of bike related parts going into landfill is much more than it should be yet there's nothing in place to solve/alleviate the problem.
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
I'd end up with a lot of clocks though.
This is a good thread. I agree - we want ways to recycle our tyres, tubes and maybe even brake blocks. And carbon fibre, although I've nearly none of that.
Cycling is probably nowhere near as eco-friendly as we'd like to think.
This is a good thread. I agree - we want ways to recycle our tyres, tubes and maybe even brake blocks. And carbon fibre, although I've nearly none of that.
Cycling is probably nowhere near as eco-friendly as we'd like to think.
Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
Knowing people in the industry, let me tell you that on average it is difficult for shops to get rid of all the materials that can be recycled.
I guess that no one is interested in making money out of scrap alluminium and steel, but most would be happy to just have them collected for free once a month, not having to pay an additional bill on top of the one that already goes the Council for waste collection.
Most shops would not have time and vehicles to reach a Recycling center. so that stuff goes in the general waste. My opinion is that the local Councils should do more on this matter: i.e. in Enfield we now have the collection of "green stuff" every 14 days instead of weekly collection, and the Council tax has certainly not gone down
I guess that no one is interested in making money out of scrap alluminium and steel, but most would be happy to just have them collected for free once a month, not having to pay an additional bill on top of the one that already goes the Council for waste collection.
Most shops would not have time and vehicles to reach a Recycling center. so that stuff goes in the general waste. My opinion is that the local Councils should do more on this matter: i.e. in Enfield we now have the collection of "green stuff" every 14 days instead of weekly collection, and the Council tax has certainly not gone down
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
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Re: Recycling of unusable/broken bike parts/frames
Steptoe and Son used to make a good living collecting rags and the like
Where are their successors? Are material prices too low?
Where are their successors? Are material prices too low?
Entertainer, juvenile, curmudgeon, PoB, 30120
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies
Cycling-of course, but it is far better on a Gillott
We love safety cameras, we hate bullies