Each year OTS asks Ontarians about their attitudes and beliefs around used tires and tire recycling. Below are some of the highlights from this year’s findings.

Ontarians are rethinking their relationship with tires

Eighty percent of Ontarians are interested in knowing more about recycled tire products, and nine out of ten have a positive perception of recycled tire products
Durable/long lasting (65 per cent), innovative (55 per cent) and sustainable (47 per cent) are the top three characteristics that come to mind when Ontarians think about recycled tire products
Only one third have a negative perception of recycled tire products, most of which are pre-associations with tires, such as smell (19 per cent), price (13 per cent) and chemical incorporations (11 per cent)

Purchasing is on the rise

Close to 60 per cent of Ontarians believe that recycled tire products are available in Ontario
One fifth (19 per cent) have knowingly purchased a product made out of recycled tires, such as door mats, patio tiles and rubber mulch. Sixty per cent of those were made within the last year
The top reasons for purchasing recycled tire products include durability (48 per cent) and availability (47 per cent)

Ontarians recognize the environmental impact of recycling tires and industry improvements to manage this

Ontarians are becoming increasingly aware of tire recycling, with almost half (43 per cent) believing that up to 90 per cent of the tire can be recycled
Almost two thirds (61 per cent) think about the environmental impact of scrap tires whenever they buy new tires and dispose of old ones
The way scrap tires are managed and responsibly recycled in Ontario has come a long way since the Hagersville fire in 1990. Almost 60 per cent agree that Ontario’s tire recycling has improved since the fire

Tires can be a key part in greening communities

Only 37 per cent of Ontarians believe that recycled tire products are currently being used in community developments, such as parks, recreation facilities, hospitals
However, over three-quarters (76 per cent) believe that their community would benefit economically and environmentally by incorporating Ontario recycled tire products in community projects

About the Survey

Conducted by Research House, the survey of 1,002 Ontarians aged 18 years of age or older was completed online between April 18 and April 23, 2013. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.10%, 19 times out of 20.