North London Waste Authority will soon start accepting donated bikes at its borough recycling centres

Cyclists will soon be able to drop their unwanted pedal bikes at local recycling centres across North London.

North London Waste Authority (NLWA), in collaboration with London Energy and The Bike Project, is launching a reuse scheme for bikes at seven of its reuse and recycling centres in each of Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Camden, Hackney and Islington boroughs.

The initiative, a first of its kind for North London, aims to refurbish donated bikes and give them to refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK, while also reducing bike waste.

The scheme will operate by allowing residents to donate their unwanted bicycles at one of their borough recycling centres. Leveraging their expertise in bicycle refurbishment, The Bike Project will then repair and restore the donated bikes to a usable condition before distributing them to refugees and people seeking asylum.

Lizzie Kenyon, chief executive of The Bike Project, said: “We’re delighted to partner with NLWA to reduce waste and improve the lives of refugees. For over a decade, The Bike Project has been refurbishing unwanted bicycles and donating them to refugees in the UK.

“With financial allowances as low as £8.86 per week for some, many refugees face tough choices between essentials and transport. Donating bikes not only prevents waste but also provides refugees with a sustainable means to access education, support services, and community connections, improving their physical and mental health.

“This partnership will help us reach more refugees, giving them the freedom and independence that a bike offers.”

NLWA chair Clyde Loakes added: “We are excited to be partnering with The Bike Project who have been supporting refugees for over a decade. This initiative is a fantastic example of how we can work innovatively to tackle waste while also providing real benefits to our community.

“The bike initiative is just another part of our extensive reuse and recycling service offer with a broad range of services, such as a reuse scheme for household items, paint and DIY materials, our ReUse Shop and recycling services for mattresses, hard plastics, carpets and expanded polystyrene.

“By creating a convenient way for residents to donate bikes they no longer need, we are actively diverting items from waste. Not only does the scheme benefit the environment but it also supports the community, offering refugees and asylum seekers in London a sustainable mode of transport and contributing to a healthy and green lifestyle.”

For more information on the bike recycling scheme and the locations where they can be recycled:
Visit nlwa.gov.uk

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