139,098 TIRES COLLECTED AND $357,960 RAISED DURING TIRE RECYCLING EVENTS
– Across Ontario Diverted Tires Help the Sunshine Foundation Provide Special Experiences for Over 100 Children –
TORONTO, August 3, 2011 — Scrap tires can make dreams come true for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada. Between May 28th and June 2nd, Ontarians dropped off over 139,000 used tires at 72 locations across the province. These collection events raised $357,960 for the Sunshine Foundation Children’s Charity at the 3rd Annual Tire Take Back Events, organized by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) and the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA).
The six-day recycling blitz helped divert tires from landfills, while raising money to assist children with severe physical disabilities and life-threatening illnesses fulfill a personal dream or take part in an adventure they will never forget. The collection allowance that OARA members receive for each tire dropped off is matched by OARA and coupled with donations from registered tire haulers Liberty Tire Recycling, National Tomlinson and Trillium Tire East, to create an overall donation to the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.
“Congratulations to Ontarians for their outstanding recycling efforts and creatingthe most successful tire collection event to date,” said Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship. “The number of tires collected nearly tripled last year’s amount, and stacked on top of each other, could be the height of more than 65 CN Towers. Each year, in partnership with OARA, we strive to create a stronger green economy, build sustainable markets for products that contribute to a low-impact environmental future, and make unforgettable dreams come true for more children through the Sunshine Foundation.”
This year, the OARA member that collected the most tires from residents in their area will also be recognized with a gift-in-kind of up to $15,000 worth of tire-derived products to be used toward a community facility or project. This year’s prize goes to Woodbeck Auto Parts in Stirling, Ontario, for collecting nearly 25,000 tires. Woodbeck will use the prize money to provide recycled rubber flooring to refurbish a local hockey arena, the Stirling District Recreation Centre of Stirling-Rawdon.
“We’re proud to recognize our 72 participating OARA members for their growing efforts to recycle not only tires, but thousands of vehicles and auto parts each year,” said Steve Fletcher, Executive Director of OARA. “For the second year in a row, Woodbeck Auto Parts not only led the province in the collection, but also exceeded last year’s efforts by 21,000 tires. Honourable mentions also go to Hotch’s Auto Parts in Ameliasburgh and Sonshine Auto Parts in Cumberland, who gave Woodbeck some fierce competition. In total this year we had eight members exceed the total collected by Woodbeck’s winning number last year.”
OTS tracks and manages how the approximately 12 million tires sold in Ontario every year are handled once they reach the end of their service life, diverting them from burning facilities and landfills. Through the Used Tires Program, Ontarians can drop off up to four used tires each for free at hundreds of registered collection locations around the province, and the tires collected will be reused or recycled into new consumer products such as rubber mulch, door and car mats and roof shingles. To date, Ontario Tire Stewardship has helped recycle more than 33 million tires in Ontario. Please visit GreenMyTires.ca for details on registered collectors across the province.
An official presentation ceremony for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada and the designated community project receiving the $15,000 gift-in-kind will take place today at 10:30 a.m. ET at Woodbeck Auto Parts in Stirling, Ontario. Photos from the events, such as stacks of tires collected, are available upon request.
About the Sunshine Foundation
The Sunshine Foundation of Canada makes dreams come true for children living with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. For more information, visit www.sunshine.ca.
About OARA
The Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (www.oara.com) represents 130 professional auto recyclers across Ontario who recover and recycle end-of-life vehicles for their parts reuse and materials recycling.
About OTS
Established in 2009, Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) is an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) incorporated under Ontario’s Waste Diversion Act, to implement and operate the Used Tires Program.
The program recycles and reuses the 12 million tires sold annually in the province, preventing them from ending up in landfills or being dumped illegally. Instead, OTS directs these scrap tires to recyclers who use them to make new green products for a variety of applications including home, garden, school, arena, park and more. Beyond recycling, OTS also educates and encourages Ontarians on the use of tire derived products – items made from used tires that actually last longer and work better than similar products in market, and educates Ontario drivers on how to get the most life and performance from their tires.
For more information, please visit www.GreenMyTires.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @GreenMyTires
To arrange an interview with a spokesperson from OTS or OARA please contact:
Vanessa Ciccone
Environics Communications
416-969-2717
