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9 Jul 2025

A recent BBC Breakfast segment has sparked backlash from the cycling community over its portrayal of e-bikes, with critics accusing the broadcaster of conflating legal e-bikes with illegal,...

8 Jul 2025

More than 30 locations across Scotland have seen a major rise in the number of people cycling, according to newly released data.

7 Jul 2025

Sixteen illegally upgraded e-bikes capable of speeds up to 40mph have been seized and disposed of in a joint enforcement operation in Birmingham city centre.

7 Jul 2025

Bristol-based Cytech training provider and ACT member Life Cycle has launched its award-winning Bikes Beyond Bars programme at HMP Bullingdon, expanding a project that has already impacted lives...

4 Jul 2025

New data from Strava reveals a major surge in cycling across the UK, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

3 Jul 2025

Shimano has launched an urgent investigation into what it describes as a “critical” shortage of skilled bike mechanics across Europe, warning that the situation threatens to...

2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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National Bicycle Tyre Recycling Scheme to be launched later this year

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

Whilst cycling is arguably one of the most environmentally conscious of sports, we do, sadly generate more landfill than many others. In 2018 the ACT helped conduct a survey which led to the assessment that 44,000 tonnes of waste bicycle tyres and inner tubes enter UK landfill every year. This figure is set to rise as participation continues to increase.

Each year in the UK:

  • 30,500,000 tyres are disposed of
  • Along with 152,500,000 inner tubes
  • Over 99% of these end up in landfill
  • This is in excess of 44,000 tonnes

Following the survey, work began on developing a UK collection and recycling scheme for bicycle tyres and inner tubes which is set to be rolled out nationwide. All of the rubber collected will be reprocessed into new materials or re-used in other ways, with zero going to landfill and none exported.

The scheme will see participating bike stores, workshops, hire schemes and cycle refurbishment centres all become local collection points. The cost of running the scheme will be funded by consumers by means of charging a recycling levy on every scrap tyre received.

The National Bicycle Tyre Recycling Scheme is to be run by Velorim Limited, whose Chief Executive, Dave Hawthorn commented, ‘It is important that we, the UK cycling industry, get our house in order before the government makes the disposal of bicycle tyres illegal. Once we have, we can then rightly re-claim the position of being the most environmentally responsible of sports.'

The UK government has signalled its intent to outlaw the disposal of several troublesome waste streams and bicycle tyres are set to be included. The dumping of automotive tyres has been illegal since 2003 yet bike tyres, technically almost identical, have been overlooked principally due to the absence of a viable recycling scheme.

To find out more and to apply to become a local collection point, or Velorim Centre as they will be known, visit www.velorim.co.uk.

 

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