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toxic sludge and aluminum sourcing for bikes

Zorba

Chimp
May 25, 2010
17
0
Given the potentially catastrophic toxic sludge flood in Hungary I was wondering where most of the aluminum for bikes comes from. Are there companies that give consideration to sourcing aluminum from suppliers with good environmental records?
 

JCL

Monkey
Aug 31, 2008
696
0
Well Alcoa recently ruined one of the worlds last untouched wilderness areas in Iceland.

Time for a carbon frame?
 

matsO

Monkey
Aug 26, 2006
139
0
I definitely agree with Zorba, aluminum sourcing is one of the most energy consuming processes there is. To close your eyes on the reality behind our toys is kind of ignorant. But, some people like to be and stay ignorant :)
 

dilzy

Monkey
Sep 7, 2008
567
1
Reality is, publicly traded companies are purely driven by profit for the share holders. If an aluminium refinery can get away with doing the bare minimum required by law (sometimes less), then they will, even if they know they are on the edge of a disaster.

E.G. recent BP blowout, Free Port mine, Pipa Alpha.

As far as I know, with regards to bikes, Chris King is the only company I can think of that touts an environmental consciousness. Be aware that carbon fibre and resin manufacture is very much a polluting process.

Edit. Those poor bastards in Hungary, because the inspector didn't do his job or the design was inadequate. Apparently it was inspected a couple of weeks before=he likely got paid off or was ignorant.
 

Vrock

Linkage Design Blog
Aug 13, 2005
276
59
Spain
Mining dams blow all the time. We had a disaster a few years ago just a few miles away from my house.... in Aznalcollar, it was a huge disaster and it's really expensive to fix the land, the mining company is trying to avoid the payment...

 

Raingauge

Monkey
Apr 3, 2008
692
0
Canadia
Maybe the worlds biggest consumer should get on the recycling bandwagon. The amount of stuff I see that is thrown out that could be recycled is astounding.

The city I live in has one of the largest composters in NA and a very good recycling program yet James Cameron was just up here b!tching about our oilsands while flying around in his helicopter. LOL
 

Zorba

Chimp
May 25, 2010
17
0
Wow, that's sobering.

Interesting the hate in this thread for even asking the question. I certainly would support a company that considered the source of their raw material. This is one of the reasons I've bought King headsets before.

The argument that airplanes and cars use way more so it's ok not to worry about bikes is a funny one - one worth looking into. It may be quite shocking how much aluminum the bike industry does consume. Regardless, we're all a part of the machine and have a part to play.

Perhaps if a good carbon recycling process is developed that's the way to go.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
That's absolutely insane.
Don't forget the coal ash spill. Most of the US is powered by coal:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/us/25sludge.html

Remediation of the Chernobyl disaster decades after the fact does nothing for the areas (people, wildlife, plants) during the event and for years to come. Genetic damage cannot be cleaned up and its problems can take a long time to manifest.

The same goes for oil spills (especially for BP with the untested dispersant). You can still find oil in the environment from the Ixtoc and Valdez even years after the fact. Its not possible/cost effective to completely clean up the spills.
 

fluider

Monkey
Jun 25, 2008
440
9
Bratislava, Slovakia
There is NO WAY that directly effected area in there can be somehow de-contaminated! And that it wasn't enough, the toxic ****s are going to contaminate all underground reservoirs of water in few hundreds of KMs along the river Danube. The winter, which is mostly rainy in Hungary, is going to come in 2 months. The devastation and impact on DNA and RNA will spread among several countries, not only Hungary.

I wouldn't say the problem is in material. Isn't it the man who always makes "mistake"?
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
you are an asshole...
Would it have been better if I said "Better Hungary than Whistler?"

Quit your complaining. You, and I, are just as culpable because we ride bikes. Learn to have a sense of humor...
 

Zorba

Chimp
May 25, 2010
17
0
If we could only grow carbon fibre bamboo hemp...seriously though, maybe bike companies (or someone) could offer old frame recycling incentives when buying new bikes? Guess it all comes down to $ in the end...
 

no skid marks

Monkey
Jan 15, 2006
2,511
29
ACT Australia
Steels better anyway. Buy steel frames. Simple.
I personally collect and recycle well over my bikes weight in ally and steel each year from the bush.
My car runs on LPG, my girls Deisel. Ideally here in Oz, I'd use natural gas, and am looking into it. Electric cars will be so rad, but the batteries still suck, and it's expensive to convert your car, and I know as soon as I do, some company will bring out a cheap one that's better.
 

ChrisKring

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
2,399
6
Grand Haven, MI
There was a quote from a company right here in town I've never heard of. After reading their website M.I.T.http://www.emergingmit.com/services.html , I know why. They are way smartzor than I iz! :homer:
yep, I actually had that in my original post but edited it out. The guys from MIT came in and pitched their technology to my group at work about 6 month ago. Pretty impressive. I really like the net shape preforms. They would be good for a small frame builder. hint to all those out there.

Anyway, they use post consumer bicycle parts as part of their feedstock.