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=== Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle === | === Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle === | ||
==== Umeå Wheels ==== | |||
'''Umeå Wheels provides a new life for abandoned bicycles''', Marina Kelava|, February 11, 2020 | |||
Umeå is a small town in the mid-northern region of Sweden with a large university population of about 30,000 students. Bicycles are the preferred mode of transit but many students buy cheap city bikes and abandon them when they leave. When Aamer Barood moved to the town from Sudan in 2016, he noticed the numerous abandoned bicycles on the streets. Inspired to put them back to use, he and other international students founded Umeå Wheels, a startup company that collects, repairs, and offers the bikes for sale or rent. | |||
“I am coming from a tiny village in which sharing is a way of living. For example, if someone has food for today then he will share it, not because he wants to share but because he is not sure if he will have food for tomorrow but he knows for sure that someone else will have food for tomorrow and they will share it as well,” Aamer said. | |||
The company has rescued 900 bikes since January 2018, and they sell from $60. | |||
Umeå Wheels provides a new life for abandoned bicycles | |||
Image provided by Aamer Barood | |||
“We aim to reduce the waste of resources and reach zero bikes stolen or abandoned. We believe that reuse should not be just an option but the first thing to do. Recycling is the last thing to do to reduce CO2 emissions from melting bikes components,” the company states on its webpage. | |||
The company offers discounts for students the option to sell the bike back when you leave town. Maintenance is free, a big bonus because most of the bikes are old and the town’s tough winters mean the bikes need more maintenance. | |||
“We are still struggling to cover our basic needs and cost for the project but we are building many smart partnerships and collaboration with the local authorizes and other organizations,” Aamer said. | |||
To prevent bicycle theft, the company is developing a digital registration system for bikes. The bike’s owner is flagged during a transaction to reduce thefts and illegal sales. | |||
“Although we are facing so many challenges to change people’s mentality of using secondhand stuff through a circular economy process, we want to increase the life duration of every bike by making the connection between the bikes and their owners stronger,” Aamer said. | |||
Umeå Wheels aims to make bike use easier, creating a more sustainable city. The owners want to make using the eco-friendly bike the primary way people get around. <ref>[https://www.shareable.net/volunteers-arrest-highlights-growing-criminalization-of-mutual-aid-nationwide/ shareable.net]</ref> | |||
==== Other initiatives ==== | |||
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Revision as of 09:05, 13 February 2020
Initiatives by topicClimate actionwikipedia:Climate change in Sweden Community energyWikipedia: Sweden, Renewable energy Cycling activismCritical Mass bicycle rides in Sweden Ethical consumerismWikipedia: Fairtrade settlements in Sweden Open spaceswikipedia:List of national parks of Sweden Reduce, reuse, repair and recycleUmeå WheelsUmeå Wheels provides a new life for abandoned bicycles, Marina Kelava|, February 11, 2020 Umeå is a small town in the mid-northern region of Sweden with a large university population of about 30,000 students. Bicycles are the preferred mode of transit but many students buy cheap city bikes and abandon them when they leave. When Aamer Barood moved to the town from Sudan in 2016, he noticed the numerous abandoned bicycles on the streets. Inspired to put them back to use, he and other international students founded Umeå Wheels, a startup company that collects, repairs, and offers the bikes for sale or rent. “I am coming from a tiny village in which sharing is a way of living. For example, if someone has food for today then he will share it, not because he wants to share but because he is not sure if he will have food for tomorrow but he knows for sure that someone else will have food for tomorrow and they will share it as well,” Aamer said. The company has rescued 900 bikes since January 2018, and they sell from $60. Umeå Wheels provides a new life for abandoned bicycles Image provided by Aamer Barood “We aim to reduce the waste of resources and reach zero bikes stolen or abandoned. We believe that reuse should not be just an option but the first thing to do. Recycling is the last thing to do to reduce CO2 emissions from melting bikes components,” the company states on its webpage. The company offers discounts for students the option to sell the bike back when you leave town. Maintenance is free, a big bonus because most of the bikes are old and the town’s tough winters mean the bikes need more maintenance. “We are still struggling to cover our basic needs and cost for the project but we are building many smart partnerships and collaboration with the local authorizes and other organizations,” Aamer said. To prevent bicycle theft, the company is developing a digital registration system for bikes. The bike’s owner is flagged during a transaction to reduce thefts and illegal sales. “Although we are facing so many challenges to change people’s mentality of using secondhand stuff through a circular economy process, we want to increase the life duration of every bike by making the connection between the bikes and their owners stronger,” Aamer said. Umeå Wheels aims to make bike use easier, creating a more sustainable city. The owners want to make using the eco-friendly bike the primary way people get around. [1] Other initiativesError in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
In the Eskilstuna municipality, all household solid waste is recycled with optical color sorting since 2011, which is a new way of recycling. Each waste fraction has its own colored recyclable plastic bag and is disposed of in the same garbage bin. By using optical color sorting, house owners are able to sort out organic food waste, plastic, metal and paper packaging, newspapers and household waste. The organic food waste is then used to produce biogas and the other five fractions are recycled and reused. The system of six different fractions is unique of its kind in Europe. W SharingTrees, woodland and forestSweden is covered by 53.1% forest.[2] "In less than 100 years, Sweden’s forest assets have doubled." [3] Urban sustainability |
News and comment2017 Stockholm Starts a Friendly Rivalry Over Car-Free Planning, May 12 [4] Sweden Opens World’s First Mall for Repaired and Recycled Goods, Apr 4 [5] Stockholm Biochar Project, a Mayors Challenge Winner, Opens its First Plant, Mar 29 [6] Stockholm bike trips to inner city grow by 30% in 1 year. Mar [7] From recycling royalty to smart buildings, Stockholm mayor takes on climate change, Mar 6 [8] European Commission honours Malmö and Brussels as leaders in sustainable mobility, Mar [9] Sweden announces new law binding future governments to a goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, Feb 3 [10] 2016 Sweden introduces energy storage subsidy for households, Nov 24 [11] Waste not want not: Sweden to give tax breaks for repairs, Sep 19 [12] Error in widget Vimeo: Unable to load template 'wiki:Vimeo'
These Swedish "bike apartments" are designed for life without cars, by Adele Peters, Aug 29 [13] Swedish Capital Stockholm Divests From Fossil Fuel Investments, Jun 16 [14] Sweden introduces Six Hour Working Day, May [15] Sweden phases out fossil fuels in attempt to run completely off renewable energy, May 24 [16] Sweden launches collection of clothing that you can borrow for free, Jan 20 [17] 2015 Stockholm on track to be fossil fuel free, December 8 [18] What can the world learn from Växjö, Europe's self-styled greenest city? November 25 [19] They really mean it! Sweden's Green transition gathers pace, September 24 [20] Bee Urban is pollinating Stockholm, May 21 [21] Stockholm: Breaking the Commuting Cycle through intelligent design, March 11 [22] 2014 Stockholm, which has one of the most advanced networks of cycling paths in the world, with over 4,000 km of bicycle lanes per 1,000 sq. km., named as ‘Europe’s best city for commuters’, May 28 [23] Sweden one of three European Union member countries that have already met their renewable energy goals for 2020, with 51 percent of its energy coming from renewables, March 12 [24] Umeå launch green parking scheme, February 6 [25] 2010 Stockholm, European Green Capital 2010 1972 The Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden 5 to 16 June, the first of a series of world environmental conferences. [26] News sourcesResourcesCommunity resourcesError in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
Local communities in Sweden community actionInterwiki linksWikipedia: Sweden, Making Sweden an Oil-Free Society
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