Recycling Bicycles

What better way to help save the planet than toout the opening hours, which can vary for cars
ride a bicycle versus driving a car? Besides theand vans. And yes, you would need some other
added benefit of helping to reduce the amount ofform of your own transportation to get there
pollution that is in the air, riding a bicycle also helpsbesides a bike!
you to get extra exercise! Now, who is going toBefore you take your beloved bike to the
argue with getting a little added exercise? Not me.recycling center, make sure that you remove any
Riding a bicycle is also beneficial because it doesn'tand all of the rubber or plastic parts of it such as
cost as much as it would to spend money on athe tires, inner tubes of the tires, saddles (those
vehicle. However, there are obvious drawbacks torubbery things that go over your pedals), brakes,
having a bicycle versus not having a bicycle. Forplastic lights or other accoutrement, lock fittings
example, if you only had a bicycle, then getting tobells and/or whistles. If you don't want to take
work would be extremely difficult for a lot ofyour bicycle to a recycling center because the
people. For instance, if you were a businessthought of it being stripped and torn apart is too
woman or business man, and had to go to workmuch than you can bear, than you can always
in a suit and tie, the last thing you'd want to do isfeel free to donate your bicycle to a homeless
ride a bike (especially on a hot summer day) onlyshelter or other outreach-type program such as
to get all sweaty.your local YMCA or Salvation Army.
Besides that fact, how far would it be for you toIf you are unsure of the various community
bike to work, and would you have to take theoutreach programs in your area, simply call
highway or could you take local back streets?information, ask around, visit a church (they
What about your briefcase, portfolio or otherusually have local bulletins and postings or
items that you might've had to bring with you?outreach groups within the church), or surf the
Obviously, it is not a very realistic thing for a lotInternet to find out. There is no limit to what you
of people. However, it is a good idea sometimes.can do with your old bike or anything that you
For those of you who are interested, it is alsomight have that you don't use anymore.
possible to recycle your bicycle. If you've hadRemember that saying that states "one man's
your bike for a number of years and havejunk is another man's gold!" It's true. You may no
deemed it totally inoperable, you can still recycle it.longer have a use for you bicycle, but if you
Many local recycling centers actually have a mixedsimply throw it out, you will never know how that
metals recycling facility in them where you canbike could have possibly brought joy to another
recycle the metal parts of your bike. If you areperson's life.
unsure, simply contact the recycling center to find