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Nice question.
Although bikes are a very green mode of transport the increasing built in obsolescence of products within the industry is quite disheartening.
At the most basic level stuff from a bike could be taken to a scrap metal merchant, then there are cycling charities that take any old bits to try and get old knackered bikes rideable again.
Better Health Bikes in Haggerston is one and I think there is another similar set up somewhere else in Hackney.
nomoreknees-
I’ve started a box of steel bits to recycle that my kids test with a magnet for me- sometimes means disassembling old components that are no use. The scrap guy outside our local tip will take a full box.
I know aluminium can be recycled but does that extend to bike parts?
Does anyone remember the Isla bike scheme where you leased a kids bike and swapped for next size, sending the old bike back for refurb? That seemed sensible but not sure it’s still a thing
Tallboy
Been going through my spares / old parts box and mildly shocked at the amount of material that’s probably never going to get used again, as much as I try and sell bits on and bike jumble them. Case in point, a weighty old SR Suntour fork from my first MTB, which now just lives in my garage.
Are there any good services for ‘end of life’ bike parts? Where’s the best place to recycle chains, bottom brackets and other consumables full of metal that’s been mined and shipped from somewhere? Where can I send old tyres where they won’t end up o fire?
I’ve also started following Shift Cycling Culture, an organisation aiming to inject more sustainability into the industry. Worth a follow.
I know consuming bikes and chopping and changing parts in search of the do it all bike that can never exist is actually more fun than riding a bike, and it’s obviously already the greenest form of transport, but I reckon we can do even better.
So main point - where do I send my rusty old shit?