Call For Partners: From Waste to Wheels - A Bicycle Reuse Initiative

Help Us Bring Used Bicycles Back to Life

The City of Copenhagen is launching a pilot project aimed at collecting and reusing abandoned bicycles found in courtyard areas across the city. Starting September 2025, we will collect discarded bikes twice a week, with the goal of giving as many as possible a second life through reuse. This initiative supports our broader commitment to sustainability, circular economy, and waste reduction.

We are seeking out people and organisations who are interested in giving used bikes a new life - and who have the skills and capacity to reuse whole bikes or parts. We want to learn more about what the market can offer, and invite you to share your interest and ideas for reuse.

Understanding Reuse and Recycling

To clarify, our focus is on reuse, not recycling:

• Reuse means using items again for their original purpose instead of discarding them.
• Recycling involves breaking down waste materials and transforming them into new products by changing their form or structure.

Previous trials have shown that at least 40% of the collected bicycles are suitable for reuse as whole bikes, while a minimum of 30% can be salvaged for parts such as pedals, lights, and saddles.

Next Steps

Please fill out the attached questionnaire and send it to Helena Abdali at Wf9j@kk.dk to share your insights and indicate your interest. Your responses will help us evaluate the market and design an effective reuse system. The deadline is Tuesday, 24 June.

We welcome your questions and can arrange follow-up meetings for interested partners.

Please note that submitting your response is non-binding, but it will form the basis for potential future collaboration and may be referenced in upcoming tenders.