From Tires to Toys: Not-for-profit organization uses crumb rubber to refurbish community spaces

Victoria, British Columbia — September 19, 2019 — A tire recycling organization in British Columbia is using recycled crumb rubber to better the local community and send a sustainable message.

Tire Stewardship B.C. (TSBC) hosts frequent “tire round up” drives in the Okanagan, B.C. area, where drivers can donate their old tires and feel good about it. Tire Stewardship takes the tires it receives and recycles them into crumb rubber for a variety of products, including running tracks, playground surfacing or colourful, resilient flooring in recreational facilities. The materials may also be used as slip-proof flooring and mats in agricultural and industrial facilities, as well as coloured landscaping mulch.

Since 1991, more than 90 million tires have been recycled — and upcycled — in British Columbia. Many of those tires have been reimagined into feature elements of more than 300 community spaces throughout the province, all created using recycled rubber supported by a TSBC grant.

TSBC was founded by the Rubber Association of Canada, the Retail Council of Canada and the Western Canada Tire Dealers. In 2007 the New Car Dealers Association also joined. The not-for-profit is governed by a board made up of representatives from these four organizations.

The organization formed to accept responsibility for the provincial scrap tire recycling program and eventually replaced the government-run program that had been in place since 1991.

TSBC also accepts bicycle tires.

To stay updated on upcoming drives and TSBC’s efforts, visit its website here, or check out its Facebook page.