Brian Johnson

One thing to consider: washing greasy rags vs. throwing them away or
using paper towels.

If you wash petrochemical contaminated rags where does the rinsate go?
Is that better than throwing a greasy paper towel away? Which method has
the lowest net impact on our environment?

I faced a similar situation a few years ago with cloth (reusable) vs
disposable diapers. Waste and contaminate potable water and introduce
noxious chemical residue to the metro sewer system or simply throw
something away.

I decided that the net result favors disposal of diapers. I decided the
same thing with greasy rags-- sometimes I don't think reuse is
necessarily a good thing.

I note that ProLink Gold chain lube claims to be non-toxic and
"environmentally friendly". I use this (and another product- ATB). I
wash my drivetrains with liquid dish soap and hot water (hot water ain't
PRO, but... y'know) and there is very little in the way of toxic sludge
to come off the drivetrain. I don't clean my chains with solvents
anymore-- haven't for years. There's all sorts of citrus degreasers out
there that work pretty well and are easier on my hands and the environment.

As for used and broken bike parts? I'm intrinsically a pack rat and
anything that could have any possible use in the future is saved. That
said, anything metal goes in the recycling tubs. Our carriers will take
metal parts up to 30 lbs. So unusable cogs, chainrings, old old
handlebars, trashed rims, broken spokes, useless washers and nuts, and
misc metal components find their way into the recycling tubs. This is
why I don't like composite stuff-- the damaged composite seatpost will
either go in the trash or be re-made into some sort of home furnishing
(non weight-bearing). To throw it away would leave it to molder in the
Earth for who know how long.

Old tubes are useful for all sorts of things, plus I patch and patch and
patch. So I have yet to throw away an old tube.

As for brake pads? I don't know. I have a bunch that are sitting in my
trash box. I hesitate to throw them out, but don't know what to do with
them otherwise. They will eventually get tossed unless some use for them
comes up.

Every time I throw away a broken/used bike part, I'm very aware of the
choice I'm making. Most times I just see no other alternative other than
to create my own trash dump.

It's this eventual end-of-life scenario that I think of whenever I'm
faced with something so stupidly unserviceable like a Shimano STI lever.
I have one right now, that for want of a small, stamped-steel
hinge-plate, is garbage! How is that okay, Shimano? I wonder how many
components have been thrown away because of some small, easily
replaceable part that the manufacturer won't supply.

Bottom line, I think that it's good to at least be aware and considerate
of the choices one makes -- reuse, wash, recycle, or throw away.

--

"There's no time for sanity, chum!"
-- The Tick