In Ontario, more than 12 million new tires are sold every year. With proper care, most tires last a long time, but they all eventually get worn down and need to retire from the road.
Just a decade ago, at the end of their useful life, tires would have ended up in hazardous tire piles or landfills. Now, through Ontario Tire Stewardship’s (OTS) Used Tires Program, old tires are collected and responsibly recycled, all tire piles in the province have been cleaned up, and there are examples of recycled Ontario tire products in everything from carpet underlay and garden edging to livestock flooring and sidewalk tiles.
The Used Tires Program has been around since 2009 and during this time, we have recycled over 85 million tires! We’ve also become the experts on all things related to tires and recycling. Outlined below are three key things about OTS and our programs that we thought you should know.
1. The Used Tires Program has revolutionized tire recycling in Ontario
The program enables Ontarians to easily and efficiently recycle used on-the-road and off-the-road tires – this includes everything from automobile, motorcycle, truck and tractor tires. Our province benefits environmentally and economically as tires are diverted away from landfills where they can’t be stored safely. The Used Tires Program removes tire stockpiles and transitions them into household, commercial and automotive products, creating green jobs and economic benefits right here in Ontario.
2. Recycled tire rubber is versatile: so many innovative green products are available for home, agricultural and industrial use
Many of the products used in your home or garden can be made with recycled tires. Doormats, mulch, patio stones, planters, and roofing shingles, can all be made with your old tires. Tires can do wonders for farms – and animals too. Recycled tire products are non-toxic, shock absorbing, durable and low maintenance, which makes them versatile for so many uses. From strong durable matting to therapeutic equestrian stall flooring, the possibilities are endless!
What else can your old tires turn into? Check out this infographic for more:
3. OTS helps Ontario communities Rethink, Rebuilt and Renew spaces with our Community Renewal Fund program
As of part our continued efforts to support the province-wide Used Tires Program and educate Ontarians about the benefits and uses of eco-friendly recycled tire products, we are able to make a difference in your community! From skating rinks to parking lots and playgrounds, recycled tire products can be used in any community space.
Whether it’s supplying over 7,000 sq. ft. of permeable pavers made from recycled rubber tires to the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Woodbridge, Ontario, OR installing 8,600 square feet of rubber flooring made with recycled tires at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. We love greening your spaces!
Check out this video we shot at the Harbourfront Centre to see what we mean.
We’ve come a long way over the past seven years and we are so proud of everything that we have accomplished. Check out some of our stellar accomplishments below!
Through OTS’s efforts more than $70 million dollars of new investments, and innovation in Ontario’s green sector have been realized, creating hundreds of new recycling and manufacturing jobs in the province. Thanks for helping us reach our milestones – we look forward to achieving many more with your support!
