Monday 24 August 2020

New scheme launches to save 85% of scrap bicycle tyres and inner tubes from landfill

New scheme launches to save 85% of scrap bicycle tyres and inner tubes from landfill

A project claiming to be the first bicycle tyre recycler in the UK promises to stop up to 85% of all scrap bicycle tyres and inner tubes being sent to landfill.

Staffordshire-based Velorim Ltd is launching its subscription service for retailers, repair shops and bike-hire schemes in September - the scheme will see recycling solutions offered to customers at a cost of 50p per tyre and 20p per inner tube.

Currently, 30,500,000 tyres and 152,500,00 inner tubes are thrown away each year across the country, with 99% of these ending up in landfill, adding up to 44,000 tonnes of waste.

Richard Lawrence, One of the two directors at Velorim says, “​Russ Taylor and I ​are also Trustees of a charity, Cycle-R that refurbishes and recycles donated bicycles. During the refurbishment process approximately 50% of these bikes are scrapped and broken down into steel, alloy, plastic and rubber.

"Of these, the steel, alloy and plastics are onward processed through standard collection and recycling routes. However, we have been unable to find anyone in the world who will collect bicycle tyres on this scale.”

Velorim says companies are showing interest "in great numbers" and signing themselves with us for the trials.

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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