Exercise bike disposal

January 29, 2007 7:50 AM

How to dispose of a broken exercise bike (in north New Jersey)?

I'm moving next weekend and have a broken exercise bike (in good condition otherwise--the flywheel belt came off) which I do not intend to keep, and hope to avoid moving with.

I've tried hawking it on Freecycle and got one bite, but have reservations about whether it will actually be picked up; so I assume it will need to be disposed of in some other fashion (the next bulk-trash day at my current residence is in March).

So. How do I get rid of it? Can it be taken to a regular dump (do they even have those in suburbia)? Are there places that will take slightly broken equipment and fix it up / resell? Other?

As stated, this is in northern New Jersey, Union County to be specific.

posted by cyrusdogstar to home & garden (10 comments total)

Take it to a local recycling center if you wish to trash it. They all have a scrap metal dumpsters for items such as that. It's free.
posted by thetenthstory at 7:56 AM on January 29, 2007

Goodwill Donation Bins & Centers for Greater NY and Northern NJ (as long as it is in good shape and can be easily repaired I bet they could make some use of it).
posted by ND¢ at 8:26 AM on January 29, 2007

Did you try Craigslist? It has a section for free stuff.
posted by hermitosis at 8:56 AM on January 29, 2007

I totally forgot about Craigslist--threw a post up there just in case. My main reason for asking, though, is to be prepared in the eventuality that nobody wants it and we have to throw it out.

Also knew about Goodwill, but had previously only contacted them re: furniture (our local chapter doesn't accept furniture for some reason). I doubt they'll take an exercise bike if they don't take furniture, but it's worth a phone call.

thetenthstory - Can things like exercise bikes really be simply recycled? I assumed that due to all the metal/plastic/lubricant/etc, that it can't just be hucked into your average recycling center. I'll check it out, though.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 9:10 AM on January 29, 2007

No go on the Goodwill :(
posted by cyrusdogstar at 9:12 AM on January 29, 2007

You could always try setting it out on your curb with a "FREE" sign attached. I get rid of an astonishing amount of otherwise useless things using this method.

But bring it back in if no one takes it after a few days; no need to trash up the neighborhood.
posted by jamaro at 10:14 AM on January 29, 2007

I'm sorry that my Goodwill suggestion didn't work. How about calling Play it Again Sports to see if they would take it? They have a couple of locations in New Jersey, and they may even give you a couple of bucks for it. I don't know how the lack of a flywheel belt will affect their decision though.
posted by ND¢ at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2007

Hm, unfortunately none of the Play It Again places are nearby. I really appreciate the ideas though! :)

It looks like someone may pick it up despite the belt being slipped off, though -- got a bite on the Craigslist posting already. So hopefully that will be that.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 11:16 AM on January 29, 2007

Any art schools that may want the parts for the basis of some kinetic sculpture? A long shot, I know....
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 3:39 PM on January 29, 2007

Hah, that's a neat idea, psho. Unfortunately someone's taken it, and I don't think they were an art student. So now the world will never know the mind-boggling awesomeness that is a kinetic sculpture made from my old exercise bike :)
posted by cyrusdogstar at 5:36 PM on January 29, 2007