Trash or treasure? Tossed bicycles prompt questions

Jacob Davis was behind the Walmart Super Center on U.S. Highway 70 in Goldsboro when something caught his eye. It was a dumpster with brand new bicycles piled on top.

Posted 9:37 p.m. Sep 17, 2013 — Updated 9:45 p.m. Sep 17, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. — Jacob Davis was behind the Walmart Super Center on U.S. Highway 70 in Goldsboro when something caught his eye.

It was a dumpster with brand new bicycles piled on top.

“They still had the paperwork on them – the instructions and all that,” he said.

Davis counted at least 10 bikes.

“Some of them were scratched. They still looked good. I mean, one of them had a bent rim but nothing that couldn't have been fixed,” he said. “I hate to see something like that just (thrown) away."

Davis feels they could have been repaired and donated.

Five On Your Side called Walmart, and spokeswoman Kayla Whaling would only say the bikes "presented some safety issues" and some were "unable to be repaired due to bent frames."

The bikes weren't "safe enough to sell to our customers,” she said.

Five On Your Side also contacted Foss Recycling, the company named on the dumpster. Spokesman Nathan Pipkin described the bikes as "nice.” Beyond bent frames, he said, some of the bikes had broken pedals or seats. He said the company’s contract with Walmart requires the bikes be destroyed.

Davis understands store policies, but he still thinks it was a waste.

He said there are many parents who can’t afford to buy new bicycles and “would love for their youngin to have a bike."

As for why the bikes or at least part couldn't be donated, Whaling only said there were safety issues.

What do you think? Weigh in Monica Laliberte’s Facebook page.

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