The Inner West Community has been making huge tracks over the last year – expanding their shopfront, securing a new van to help with transportation of donated bikes and continuing their good work through the pandemic. But did you know that they’re also helping drive a circular economy?

Through their volunteer program, they repair old bikes that would otherwise have gone to landfill and donate them to people in need in the community. They also repurpose and rebuild some of these donated bikes for sale at the Inner West Community Bike Hub in Moreland Street, Footscray. Thanks to their volunteers and talented mechanics, they were able to repair approximately 500 bikes for donations and sales.

Based on a European Cyclists’ Federation article, approximately 100kg of CO2 goes into the production of a bike. By repairing and reusing 300 bikes last year, they saved approximately 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

They also ensure that scraps, bikes or parts that can no longer be used are broken down and sorted for recycling.

Aluminium and steel are taken to Manhari Metals who sort and export it around the world – including the biggest manufacturing giants, China and India. The scrap metal is then reused to make vehicles, containers, bridges, tools, and more.

In the last year, they recycled 3 tonnes of steel and 0.3 tonnes of aluminum. Based on an article by Recycling Magazine, you save approximately 1.67 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every tonne of steel you recycle. And Alupro, an aluminium recycling expert says that by recycling 1 tonne of aluminium saves 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This means over the last year they’ve saved over 7.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions by recycling steel and aluminium scraps, bikes and parts that are no longer usable.

The team take recyclable rubber from bike tyres to Tyrecyle who reuse them for road construction, athletic and playground surfaces, tile adhesives, matting surfaces, and as an alternative energy resource for fossil fuels, taking over 400kg of tyres to Tyrecycle over the last year – saving them from going to landfill.

You too can do your bit to help out – become a volunteer, donate old bikes you no longer need, buy a secondhand bike instead of a new one or simply opt for your bike instead of the car on your next trek to the market.

– Glen Mason & Terezia Toth

Become a volunteer

Volunteer sessions run twice a week. It’s never too late to jump in on the fun. You don’t need to sign up or experience to start volunteering, just the motivation to learn. Visit their website to find out more about the volunteer program.

Donate

If you have any bikes, parts, accessories, tyres, tubes or event bike tools you no longer need, you can donate them. Visit their website to find out more about what you can donate.