ABR RECYCLES!
The Iroquois believe:
'In our every deliberation, we should consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.'
At ABR we pride ourself in recycling over 80% to 90% of our waste. We recently won the 2002 BEST Award for businesses that care about the environment. We are members of Enviro-Stars, a government program helping businesses have less of an impact on the environment. We can even take some of your old bike parts for recycling and reuse such as chains, freewheels and chainrings. Other items we can help you recycle include dry-cell batteries and lightbulbs of all kinds.
For other cool recycled products made from bicycle parts contact:
Some companies that make clothing out of bike tires and tubes: Splaff Flopps Lush Tire Belts
ABR can accept the following items for recycling:
- Freewheels, Cogs and Cassettes (rear gears)
- Chains
- Chainrings (front gears)
- Caged Bearings (a.k.a. Bearing Retainers)
- 12", 16" and 20" Steel Wheels
- Bike Light Bulbs ------ Please take large quantities to the Bulbman
- Dry-Cell Batteries
- Used, still servicable bike parts
In addition, we are a member of the City of Seattle Mayor's Small Business Recycling Program, where we get free recycling because we generate so little garbage! They collect the same materials as the curbside program.
Information on recycling plastics.
All plastics shaped as a Tub or Bottle exept #6 are recycleable!
They also take #2 and #4 Plastic bags. #2 is crinkely like the white grocery store bags and #4 is waxy like a bread bag or veggie bag.
Send your rigid, non-food grade (no meat trays, take-out containers) to:
FP International
1093 Charter Street
Redwood City, CA 94603
It shouldn't cost you more than 20 dollars to send a bike box size box to them. We will even give you a free bike box. Just say you saw it here on our website because we normally sell them for $5.
Most other scrap bike parts and metal can be taken to West Seattle Recycling (206-935-4255).
Alchemy Goods is a Seattle company that is making really cool messenger bags and other items out of used bike inner tubes. Check them out! We donate our tubes to them.
Pedro's will send you a free Blow-out Bag for every 50 mountain bike tubes you send them.
send to:
Pedro's USA
Attn: Tube Recycling
600 Research Drive
Wilmington, MA 01887
Please tell them ABR sent you, Thanks!
If you have any good old used bike parts or complete bikes, you can donate them to Bike Works in Columbia City. They are a non-profit bike shop for kids.
Other Recycling Links:
Plug Into Recycling (Electronics)
Business and Industry Resource Venture
Green Disk Recycle CDs, Tapes and Disks
Total Reclaim
Tyvek Envelope Recycling
Pennsylvania's Recycling Page
National Recycling Coalition
America Recycles Day
BEYOND THE PAPER CUP
All it takes is a little thought to use fewer resources and leave some for our children. Here are some easy, basic, but not so obvious things you can do to minimize your impact on the planet.
- When traveling or going out, keep a set of silverware and a cloth napkin in your car or hand bag that you can use at casual restaurants.
It seems these days, most places insist on using paper plates & napkins and plastic "silverware". Mention to the owner that the place would be a lot classier with 'real' plates and eating utensils. Isn't it ironic that where you get a 'good' cup of coffee (Starbucks) they put it in a paper cup, but 'cheap' coffee (Denny's) comes in a ceramic mug! What really gets me is people sitting in the local coffee house drinking out of a double paper cup while the ceramic mugs sit idle on top of the espresso machine.
- If you forget your reusable mug, then perhaps don't get coffee that day. Your body will appreciate the break!
- Take reusable mugs to the coffee house! Keep 2 in your car (We sell holders for bikes!).
- When on vacation (from work, not life) find out what is locally recyclable, then direct your purchases toward that kind of product. For example on my last trip to Hawai'i we called the recycling center and found out what was recyclable (in this case glass, paper and aluminum). Then, when we purchased water, juice or beer :-) we made sure it was in glass or aluminum. We collected all the recyclables and took them to the recycler on the way to the airport. What little plastic we did purchase (bottled water), we stomped-on and stuffed in our suitcase for recycling in Seattle. Easy!
- When on the airplane, and they are serving drinks, ask that they reuse the first cup they give you. The waste on an airplane is AMAZING! Stop and watch how many trash bags get tossed off the plane after landing next time. Quite wastefull!
- Take Cloth bags to the grocery store.
- Reuse (wash) plastic vegetable bags or just don't use them! do you really need to put your oranges in a plastic bag to take to the register?
- Buy 100% recycled paper products, especially paper towels and toilet paper.
- Use cloth napkins and hand towels.
- Use cloth diapers. Our son has never had diaper rash!
- Use glass or plastic jars to purchase bulk goods. Mark the containers with their empty (tare) weight.
- Eat less meat. You don't have to become a vegtarian, just eat less. For one, you will live longer, for two you will use less resources. Meat production is a huge drain on resources. Half the water used in the USA goes toward growing meat!
Final Thoughts:
The cheapest or easiest way is not always the best for the planet or safest for your health.
For instance, most paper is bleached with chlorine, which releases doxin (one of the most toxic and persistant poisons known to man) into the environment. Therefore, always buy recycled or non-bleached paper. Also look for alternatives to wood paper, like kneaf or hemp.
Ask yourself, 'What is the impact or coinsequences of each of my actions.' It all makes a difference! All things are connected. Our planet is finite! Save the Earth so Humans can live on it!
