Families to receive upcycled bikes in new county council project

People have been donating their unwanted bicycles at a promotional event at Harplands Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staff from the county council’s recycling team used national Cycle to Work day on Thursday 1 August to trial the bike recycling scheme.  The scheme hopes to collect, upcycle and refurbish bikes, which will then be made available to disadvantaged families across the county.

In addition to collecting the bikes, the team offered advice on bike maintenance and safer cycling, along with ideas for more active travel.  Staff from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust also used the day to encourage more staff to cycle to work.

Simon Tagg, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change, attended the event.

Simon said: “This could be a really successful project for the county council and it was great to learn more about it from the team.

“Not only would it help reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill, which is one of our priorities, but it would also help local families.  Cycling is a great activity and we’re keen to see more of it, whether it’s cycling for pleasure or cycling to and from work.  This project could help get bicycles to families, which we hope will help improve their health and well-being, as well as cutting down on emissions from car fumes.”

Liz Mellor, Chief Strategy Officer at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This week we’re supporting national Cycle to Work day on 1 August as part of our NHS commitment to reaching carbon net zero.  Travel and Transport constitutes the second highest area of emissions across the trust, producing an estimated 194 tonnes of CO2 each year.

“We are always looking for opportunities to partner with local organisations and communities.  This was a great event to encourage colleagues to donate their old bikes, which could see them upcycled and donated to families across Staffordshire.”

The scheme could be rolled out across Staffordshire’s 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres.