Recycling
The Sibley Bike depot has been recycling bicycles since it opened in 2001. Recycling means several things to us. First of all, we try to reduce waste by saving bikes from refuse and putting them back into use. A fixed-up-recycled bike is a great, inexpensive way to ride. Generally it costs about 10 dollars per bike to get it rolling in good form again.
We also recycle parts. We try to save good parts that can be reused on bikes that need them. We often have just the part you need. come dig through our bins sometime!
At the bottom of the barrel is the heavy metal! Bikes that don't make it to the re-use lineup get recycled for the valuable metals. Recycling is not a particularly lucritive source of income for us but we do a fair amount of "scapping" of low-quality, severely damaged, rusted out bikes and parts. And then the metals can be reused in other manufacturing. It beats digging more ore out of the ground!
We always need help tearing things apart. Dan says it's theraputic! And we also think it's a good way to learn how bikes go together!