Zero Waste Week 2026
Every year, Zero Waste Week asks us to look a little harder at what we throw away, and to think twice before something useful ends up in a bin. One item that rarely makes it onto people’s radar? The bike gathering dust in the shed.
Countless unwanted bikes are simply dumped every year, with most ending up in landfill. It’s a strange contradiction: bikes are one of the most sustainable forms of transport there is, yet the way we get rid of them often isn’t sustainable at all.
At Re-Cycle, we think that needs to change.
Turning Unwanted Bikes into a Circular Economy
Re-Cycle is a UK-based charity that collects, prepares and redistributes unwanted bicycles. We prevent waste and extend the life of valuable materials. Every year, we support between thousands of people across the UK by giving them a simple, accessible way to donate a bike responsibly, keeping it out of landfill and back in use.
Working from our base in Essex, we collect donated bicycles from individuals, businesses and community partners across the country.
So far this year, Re-Cycle has collected 9,453 bikes. Each one saved from landfill and given a new purpose. From there, nothing goes to waste: bikes are either through our low-cost UK sales or via redistribution through trusted partners abroad. Anything that can’t be reused is dismantled for parts or recycled responsibly.
Nothing Wasted, Even When a Bike Can’t Be Saved
Not every bike that arrives at our warehouse can be ridden again but even those bikes still have a job to do. We strip unusable bikes for parts, salvaging components that extend the life of other bicycles further down the line.
Since Re-Cycle started in 1997, we’ve shipped over 370 containers to Africa, each one packed with around 500 bicycles and essential spare parts. Many of the spare parts salvaged from bikes that couldn’t be sent whole. These parts help mechanics we’ve trained locally keep bikes on the road for years, reducing waste and cutting down the need for new resources. By making sure every component is put to use, we get the maximum value, and the minimum environmental impact, out of every single donation.
Be Part of the Circle This Zero Waste Week
Donating is easier than you might think. We have drop-off points across the UK, so there’s likely one not too far from you. Just bring your bike along and we’ll take it from there.
Know a few other people with unwanted bikes nearby? You could even help us organise a local collection in your area, making it easier for us to reach more bikes and more people.
And if you don’t have a bike or gear to give but still want to help, you can fund our work directly. A donation online helps cover the cost of collecting, repairing and shipping bikes, and training mechanics who keep them on the road for years to come.
This Zero Waste Week, whichever way you choose to help, you’ll be keeping a bike out of landfill and changing a life at the same time.
