Lake Region Solid Waste Authority
Serving Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami, Osage, and Shawnee Counties
Adopt-A-Bike Program
The Lake Region Solid Waste Authority sponsors an Adopt-A-Bike program, which helps to divert broken and discarded bikes from ending up in landfills by refurbishing them and arranging for them to be adopted back into participating communities​
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The program was originally organized by the Lake Region Resource Conservation and Development Council in 1999 by Don Stottlemire, Lake Region RC&D President and Franklin County Commissioner. Since that time, through partnering with the Lake Region Solid Waste Authority, Ellsworth Correctional Facility, Lansing Correctional Facility, and Over The Road Gang, the Adopt-A-Bike program has donated thousands of bikes to children and adults throughout six of the seven Lake Region member counties; Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami, and Osage counties.
How it Works
Broken and unwanted bicycles are collected at designated drop-off locations in most of the Lake Region counties; typically at the transfer stations, landfills or recycling centers. Miami and Shawnee Counties are not currently included.
The donated bicycles are transported from the individual counties and consolidated in Franklin County before being sent to Ellsworth or Lansing Correctional Facilities, where inmates work to strip the salvageable parts and reassembled them into sturdy, functional bikes. Once refurbished, the bikes are transported back to Franklin County (2017 S Elm Street, Ottawa KS) and stored in a designated cargo container while waiting to be adopted.
Applications
The Adopt-A-Bike program has an information brochure designed to explain and promote the program. Included within the brochure are program details, an application form and instructions for submission, plus the positive environmental, physical, and monetary benefit of cycling. ​
Adopt-A-Bike Brochure
County ECKAN offices and various partner organization who are able to publicly promote the Adopt-A-Bike program display signs in their window or on their wall in their offices to indicate their role as designated locations to access and accept adoption applications.
Click here to see a list of application locations by county.​
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A copy of the application form is available through the following link:
Contact the Lake Region RC&D Office or our Regional Coordinator with any questions.
Lake Region Adopt-A-Bike Program
P.O. Box 220
Ottawa, KS 66067
785-242-2073
lakeregion@lakeregionrcd.org
Sustainability
The Adopt-A-Bike program promotes environmental sustainability by eliminating bicycles and associated scrap metal from ending up in the landfills. It is also a community centered program, as the repurposed bikes are available to be adopted out into the communities and increase participation in positive recreational activities. Behind the scenes, the Adopt-A-Bike program continues to contributing to jobs for the inmates at Ellsworth and Lansing Correctional Facilities, who are working to refurbish the bikes.
