Man's attempt to send 500 bikes to charity in Africa blocked at port

A man’s attempt to send more than 500 bikes to a charity in war-torn Sudan has been blocked at a Scottish port.

Nigel Carter, from Perthshire, had them returned to him last week after years of collecting second-hand bicycles and sending them to charities in countries across Africa.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said the container was stopped at the port due to some of the bikes being deemed “unsuitable for reuse” by an inspector.

Instead, the 524 bikes would be classified as waste which Mr Carter said was “exactly the opposite” of what the environment watchdog should do.

Mr Carter said the Sudanese charity set to receive the bikes had picked them out and were happy with them. Supplied

SEPA said it liaised with Mr Carter over its concern of the suitability of the bikes and was “disappointed” advice had not been followed.

Nigel told STV News: “These bikes are not a luxury for people in Sudan, they’re important for getting to and from work.

“It helps them get produce to markets, take children to school. It’s difficult for them to get to school at times.”

He added: “They are desperately needed over there, environmentally and for transport.

“What might possibly happen in these bikes would have to be scrapped.

“I’m asking for a wee bit of common sense. There’s no rule that says you can’t send them with some rust on them.”

He added that the Sudanese charity set to receive the bikes had picked them out and was happy with them before the shipment was stopped.

Gary Walker, waste and landfill tax manager at SEPA, said: “Following an inspection of a container and its contents at a Scottish port and a subsequent investigation by SEPA officers, we were unable to allow the shipment.

“It was clear that not all bikes were suitable for reuse without appropriate repairs being completed.

“This meant that they would be classified as waste – and would need to meet internationally required waste shipment controls that apply to the export.”

Mr Walker said SEPA had “engaged directly” with Mr Carter about the bikes before the container was stopped and had raised concerns about the suitability of the bikes.

He said that “clear guidance” on expectations for future exports was provided so the shipments could continue.

“We are disappointed that the recent inspection has highlighted that this advice has not been followed and remain concerned that the condition at the point of export does not provide sufficient confidence that they will be reused as bikes,” Mr Walker said.

“SEPA have a duty to ensure that Scotland’s waste is not simply dumped in another country.”