A NEW initiative between Somerset Council, SUEZ and On Your Bike, means that bikes collected off the streets will now be donated to On Your Bike, and head back onto the road.

Recycling is great but buying less or second-hand, reusing and repairing is always better for the environment.

Bikes are often collected from households as part of the Council’s bulky waste collection service, and although previously recycled as scrap metal, they will now go to new homes thanks to the partnership.

Bikes that are donated to On Your Bike are sold for affordable prices in their Bridgwater and Taunton shops.

During the first month of the new partnership, On Your Bike has received more than 25 bikes.

Tracey Monk, General Manager at On Your Bike said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with SUEZ.

“Many bikes that come to us have many more years of riding in them. We also make bikes more affordable for those whose choice of transport is a bike.”

Somerset Council offer a paid-for bulky item collection service that is operated by their collections contractor, SUEZ.

The charge for collecting up to three bulky items is £73.40 and an extra £18.40 for each additional item.

There is a maximum of five items per collection with collections being available to be booked online.

Lily Morton is the Senior Community Liaison Manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery. She said: “We are pleased to be able to start this partnership with On Your Bike and help them by donating bikes that would otherwise be recycled to have a chance for a second life.

“On Your Bike are an important part of the community and we are happy we can support them.”