Bicycle Reuse and Recycling

Bicycle Reuse & Recycling for a Great Cause!  

The City of Canada Bay Council is proud to be a supporter of the wheelchair program, one of the valuable programs run by the Mary Mackillop Outreach.   

Wheelchair frames are produced from donated bikes and the remainder of the chair is constructed from kits provided by Rotary. The wheelchairs are then shipped to Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan and Angola to children suffering from polio or who have been injured in landmine accidents. Each wheelchair requires two bike frames of equal size. The remaining parts of the bikes are recycled for metals, traded or sold to help fund the overseas shipping costs of the wheelchairs.    

Mary Mackillop Outreach is a Special Work of the St Vincent de Paul Society established to provide recreational, educational and prevocational programs for persons residing in licensed boarding houses and group homes in Sydney's Inner West. The majority of these clients have a disability, often a mental illness, have very little access to services and represent one of the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in the Community.     

There is a wonderful atmosphere as those involved in the project have a disability themselves and prepare the wheelchairs for other people with disabilities. Mary Mackillop Outreach gives participants an opportunity to contribute to their broader community while building their skills, and more importantly, their self-esteem.    

Council has made available our Bulk Household Collection Schedule to the program coordinator so he can collect bicycles placed out for disposal by residents, from the kerbside. However if you have a bicycle that you no longer require and would like to donate it to this wonderful program  please call Gary Greinke, Men's Shed & Manual Arts Coordinator on 9568 0248 to organise collection or delivery of your bicycle.