Bicycle Recovery: The Municipality, AcegasApsAmga, and Decathlon join forces for sustainable reuse.

A new circular economy project is launching in Padua, aiming to give new life to used bicycles. Promoted by the City of Padua and AcegasApsAmga in partnership with Decathlon Padua, the project will intercept, repair, and distribute to people in need the two-wheeled vehicles that residents request to be disposed of through the bulky waste collection service. The goal: to reuse, recycle, and promote more equitable and sustainable mobility.

The goal is simple and ambitious: to recover bicycles that Padua residents intend to dispose of through the bulky waste collection service and, if still in good condition, put them back into circulation. Not as waste, but as an opportunity: functioning bicycles to donate to those in the city who need them for transportation, work, study, or simply to live more independently. Individuals and families were identified through local nonprofit organizations, in a perfect example of collaboration between businesses, individuals, and institutions to create value for the entire city. Since July 1st, the AcegasApsAmga bulky waste service call center has been offering the initiative to residents requesting to dispose of bicycles. If the bicycle is deemed potentially recoverable, the operator will submit a short questionnaire, developed by Decathlon technicians, to assess its suitability for reuse and, if so, schedule a collection appointment.

AcegasApsAmga, the project's lead company, will identify bicycles suitable for recovery from the requests received. In addition to selection, the multi-utility company will ensure transportation to and from the Decathlon workshop and storage of the bicycles at its premises, also contributing consumables for maintenance. Repairs will be handled by Decathlon Padova, which will provide its workshops and technicians to get up to 60 bicycles back on the road each year. Only those that pass the initial assessment will undergo the necessary repairs, using materials and labor guaranteed by the company. The Municipality of Padua is committed to identifying non-profit organizations to which the repaired bicycles will be donated, with the aim of subsequently delivering them to citizens, choosing among the most vulnerable social groups according to criteria of maximum equity.

Andrea Ragona, Councilor for the Environment, states: "This is an experimental project, in collaboration with AcegasApsAmga and Decathlon Padova, unique in Italy, but one that we hope will set a good example in other cities where the company operates. We're giving new life to objects that could otherwise become waste, applying the concept of the four Rs—reduction, recycling, recovery, and reuse—within a project that is a virtuous example of collaboration with private individuals. Residents will be able to book the collection of their old bicycles by calling the bulky waste collection call center directly. The service cannot be requested via the app." Massimo Buiatti, Director of Environmental Services at AcegasApsAmga, adds: "This project is a concrete example of how waste management can generate value for the entire community, transforming what would otherwise be discarded into a useful and sustainable resource. With this initiative, Padua is taking a step towards a sustainable, inclusive, and circular urban model."

Marilisa Rossetto, Decathlon Padova representative, concludes: "Our sustainability ambition is to become the world's most circular and low-impact sports company, empowering our customers and communities through sport. This project is a concrete example of one of our strategic drivers: increasing circular economies and eliminating waste." The project runs until December 31, 2025, with the option to renew for up to two years. This is a valuable time to recycle still-functioning objects and, together, generate value that goes far beyond cycling.