Albertans Recycle 100 Million Tires

Alberta’s tire recycling program has reached a significant milestone. One hundred million tires have been recycled since the program’s inception in 1992.

Through Alberta’s tire recycling program, one of the first in Canada, six million tires are diverted from landfills and recycled annually, creating jobs and new products that come back full-circle into our communities.

“Albertans, municipalities, tire and vehicle retailers and the province’s recycling industry should be proud of this achievement and their contribution to eliminating tires from landfills and stockpiles. They have all played a key role in having those 100 million tires recycled into products such as sidewalk blocks, roofing tiles and playground surfaces,” Bob Barss, Chairman of Alberta Recycling said.

There are 350 collection sites across the province that accept tires for recycling. Since 2000, Alberta Recycling’s municipal grant programs have provided over $12 million to communities.

The recycling of 100 million tires was celebrated in Lethbridge last month at the grand opening of the new playground at Gilbert Paterson Middle School which was attended by Provincial officials and local dignitaries.

Rubber crumb made from scrap tires was used for the playground surface, a decision that Rebecca Ash, President of the Gilbert Paterson Tiger Society, said was easy to make. “Our society is so happy with the playground design and the use of rubber crumb. We now have a fully accessible and safe place for not only our middle school students, but the entire community to enjoy.”

About 100,000 pounds, or rubber crumb, equating to 7,560 scrap tires, was used for the playground surface.

© Scrap Tire News, October 2016