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Representatives from The Sunshine Foundation, Ontario Tire Stewardship, and Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association celebrate at A&L Recyclers in Comber, Ontario. The 2014 Tire Take Back event raised over $90,000 for The Sunshine Foundation. Photo by Trevor Booth. |
Comber, Ontario — August 6, 2014 — In May, used tires were collected from garages and yards across Ontario and transformed into something truly extraordinary for children within The Sunshine Foundation of Canada’s network. Between May 26 and May 31, 2014, Ontario residents from across the province dropped off 46,898 tires as part of the fifth annual Tire Take Back event organized by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) and the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA). This year’s event raised more than $90,000 for The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, enabling children with life threatening illnesses and severe disabilities to embark on adventures of a lifetime.
Earlier this year, OTS celebrated the exciting milestone of sixty million tires recycled in Ontario. This six-day extravaganza further illustrates how Ontarians are helping to keep tires out of landfills. Sixty registered tire collectors from Thunder Bay to London donated tire collection allowances while OARA contributed an additional $25,000 to further enhance the final collection tally.
“We’re thrilled that Ontarians continue to show such enthusiasm around the Tire Take Back program,” says Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship. “As tire recycling awareness grows, Ontarians have become very engaged in terms of driving sustainability in the province. Everyone plays a role in keeping tires out of landfills, and recycling tires means they can be turned into new high quality recycled tire products for gardens, playgrounds, and patios.”
This year, A&L Auto Recyclers in Comber, Ontario collected more than 13,000 used tires, receiving the prize for highest number of tires collected out of all participating OARA member locations. As a result, A&L will receive $15,000 toward sustainable recycled tire products to be used to revitalize a community space in partnership with the Town of Lakeshore.
“We’re very proud of our 60 participating OARA members for their commitment to helping The Sunshine Foundation of Canada,” said Steve Fletcher, Executive Director of OARA. “Tire Take Back helps a child fulfill lifelong dreams, encourages Ontarians to recycle their tires, and enables a community to create a greener space. These are the reasons so many our members are eager to participate year over year. We’re looking forward to seeing how the Community Challenge prize of $15,000 will be put to use in the Comber community.”
The official cheque presentation ceremony for The Sunshine Foundation of Canada took place on July 31, 2014 at A&L Auto Recyclers in Comber.
