Whistler Adaptive Sports Program

January 11, 2012

Vancouver, B.C. – Over half a million pounds of tires have been kept out of BC landfills thanks

to Tire Stewardship BC’s (TSBC) second round of Community Grants in 2011. For the fall

edition of the Community Grant Program, 29 BC communities and not-for-profit organizations

received a total $556,318 to be put towards using BC recycled crumb rubber in their various

community projects.

“This amounts to nearly 38,000 tires that were kept out of landfills and instead were recycled for

use in playgrounds, water parks and indoor and outdoor athletic facilities,” says TSBC Executive

Director Mike Hennessy. “In total, TSBC’s Community Grant Program recycled more than

680,000 pounds of rubber tires in 2011, benefiting the environment and helping to build BC’s

economy.”

For the fall edition of the Community Grant Program, TSBC raised its matched fund contribution

to $30,000 for the first time.

Funding for the Community Grant Program comes directly from the Advance Disposal Fee or

“eco-fee” that each retailer remits to TSBC for every new tire sold. These fees go directly

towards the operation of the BC-based scrap tire recycling program, including the transportation

and recycling of scrap tires to ensure they are disposed of in environmentally responsible ways,

such as recycling into rubber products.

Since the scrap tire recycling program was launched in 1991, more than 50 million vehicle tires

have been recycled in the province.

Applications of recycled BC rubber include:

• Playgrounds - Completely wheelchair accessible and provide safety by cushioning falls,

allowing people of all ages and abilities to participate fully and experience the joy of

physical activity and play.

• Sidewalks and Trails - Provides cushioning support that is more comfortable for

walking and jogging, is friendly to plant root systems and is water permeable. It is also

easily maintained and installed.

• Outdoor Fitness Parks - Rubber pavement cushions fitness station areas and provides

residents with easy access.

• Water Parks - Water permeability and a soft surface make BC recycled rubber an

excellent choice for spray parks and pools.

• Athletic tracks - Running tracks made from recycled rubber offer significant advantages

over other track surfaces, including reduced stress on a runner’s legs.

-more•

Synthetic Turf Fields – Sports fields that use particles of crumb rubber as infill material

increase the resiliency of the field. These fields are also cost efficient, low maintenance

and can be used in all weather conditions. The Synthetic Turf Council estimates that the

total amount of synthetic turf installed in North America conserves more than three billion

gallons of water each year.

Communities and organizations that received grants as part of the 2011 Fall Community Grant

Program:

YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan (Kelowna); School District 28 (Quesnel); City of

Nanaimo; The Village of Cache Creek; District of Tumbler Ridge; City of Fort St John; School

District 20 (Rossland); City of Port Alberni (2 projects); Regional District of North Okanagan

(Vernon; 3 projects); District of Sechelt; District of Courtenay; City of Salmon Arm; Bench

Elementary (Cowichan Bay); City of Terrace; Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society;

Vancouver Parks Board; District of North Vancouver Parks; Rotary Club of Campbell River;

Chesterfield Sports Society; Ladner Lawn Bowling Club; District of Mackenzie; City of

Greenwood, Village of Granisle; Family YMCA of Prince George; City of Coquitlam; Haida Gwaii

Fitness Association; City of Langford; City of Kelowna; Town of Creston.

Visit www.tirestewardshipbc.ca for more information.

- 30 -

Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) is a not-for-profit society formed to accept responsibility for the provincial

scrap-tire recycling program. TSBC submitted its Stewardship Plan to the Ministry on August 17, 2006.

Ministry approval was received on September 19, 2006. On January 1, 2007 TSBC launched the new

scrap-tire recycling program replacing the government-run program that had been in place since 1991.

Reference:

Rebecca Peters

LBMG

604.637.6649 (direct)

604.762.2098 (mobile)

Rebecca@LBMG.ca