Laois County Council Delivers On Bikes For Tanzania Initiative

Wednesday, 26 March 2025 15:25

The anti-dumping policy sees bicycles being sent to Africa and Portlaoise.

Laois County Council’s Environment Department, through the Anti-Dumping Initiative, successfully organised a waste amnesty for unwanted bicycles in 2024, with approximately 90 bikes generously donated by members of the public.

The initiative not only contributed to waste reduction but also supported Frontline Bikes, a social enterprise that provides individuals with backgrounds in addiction, long-term unemployment, and the criminal justice system with a pathway to recovery and employment through its bicycle mechanics training programme.

Once repaired, these bikes were donated to The Olive Branch for Children (TOBFC) in Tanzania and the Portlaoise school bike library, enabling both international and local beneficiaries to gain access to much-needed transport and recreational facilities.

Having departed from Portlaoise in September 2024, the donated bicycles successfully reached Mbeya, Tanzania, in February 2025.

In addition to the bicycles, tennis nets, rackets, balls, schoolbooks, medical supplies, arts and crafts materials, and sports equipment were generously contributed by Laois County Council staff, local sports clubs, and schools.

The Irish branch of TOBFC also provided further donations to support this initiative.

Kim O’Meara, Waste Enforcement Officer at Laois County Council, highlighted the significance of the initiative:

"This project is a fantastic example of how waste prevention and social good can go hand in hand. By repurposing these bikes, we have not only diverted valuable resources from landfill but also provided people, both locally and internationally, with access to sustainable transport and new opportunities."

Deborah McCracken of TOBFC also expressed her appreciation, stating: "The children at Zion Home are having the time of their lives playing and cycling. These donations have truly made a difference in their lives and with your donation we have launched a program to help secondary students who are walking more than 10kms to school and back on a daily basis with bicycles to facilitate getting to school more easily”