Cycle Training Wales has officially launched Cardiff’s first bike recycling scheme.

Assembly minister for the environment, sustainability and housing unveiled the project, Cardiff Cycle Workshop, to save bikes from the scrapheap.

Since June this year, Cardiff Cycle Workshop has taken in more than 100 bikes, putting 65 of them back on the road. 

As, according to Cardiff Cycle Workshop, an average bike weighs 15kg this equals a saving of 1.5 tonnes of waste. 

Abandoned and unwanted bikes are collected from a variety of sources, including Cardiff County Council recycling centres. These bikes are then reconditioned and either sold to the general public at affordable rates, made available to community projects or used for cycle training.

Richard Cowley of the the council recycling department said: “We are delighted to be involved in such a sustainable project. The city can only benefit from more people on bikes and less waste going to landfill. We wish Cardiff Cycle Workshop every success.”

Workshop coordinator Jon Howes added:  “We are really pleased the minister has chosen to support us. Cycling should be an activity that everyone can enjoy; we hope to help people do just that.”