Ontarians took another step towards turning black to green, when more than 48,000 used tires were collected following a weekend recycling blitz organized by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) and the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) in late May 2011.
The tires, which would be taller than 24 CN Towers if stacked one on top of another, were dropped off at 64 OARA member locations across the province on May 27 and 28, 2011.
The total number of tires collected in the 2011 blitz increased by more than 50 per cent over 2010.
As well, the blitz helped raise $123,725 for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.
"This is the second year that OTS and OARA have partnered to offer Ontarians a convenient way to recycle their old tires," said OTS Executive Director Andrew Horsman. "The overwhelming response demonstrates that Ontarians are willing to actively contribute to a greener Ontario and at the same time want to be part of a great cause."
Besides the recycling blitz, OTS is enhancing tire diversion in Ontario through its $500,000 Community Grant Program and $1-million Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA) Grant Program.
The Community Grant Program awards eligible Ontario-based communities and organizations up to $50,000 towards the purchase and installation of Ontario-manufactured recycled rubber products, such as rubber mulch, roof shingles and sidewalk tiles.
The RMA Grant Program aims to motivate organizations to use RMA made from Ontario recycled rubber in their paving projects.
Both programs were launched in late May 2011.
For more information and application details, visit www.ontariots.ca.
This news item first appeared in EcoLog News (7/15/11). To learn how to subscribe, visit www.ecolog.com