Rebuilding Ontario with recycled rubber one community at a time

Discovery Channel's Ziya Tong to help drive awareness of Ontario Tire Stewardship's Community Renewal Fund

TORONTO, June 18, 2015 /CNW/ - New, as well as tire-d old playgrounds, fitness tracks, and other shared community spaces will have the opportunity to go green this summer. The Community Renewal Fund, offered by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS), offers communities up to $50,000 toward building or renewing spaces using sustainable materials made with recycled Ontario tire rubber.

Building on last year's partnership, long-time supporter of all things green and co-host of Discovery Channel's Daily Planet, Ziya Tong is once again teaming up with OTS to help spread awareness of the Community Renewal Fund to show how initiatives like this are contributing to a more earth-friendly Ontario.

"I think it's terrific that these tires, once essentially considered trash and destined for landfill, are being given a whole new life as sustainable products that will benefit entire communities," says Ziya Tong. "The work OTS is doing in the renewal space is a true win-win – I really hope that all Ontario communities with current or future projects in the hopper check-out the Community Renewal Fund and consider creating greener spaces in their neighborhood."

The Fund provides eligible Ontario-based communities and non-profit organizations up to $50,000 towards the purchase and installation of Ontario-manufactured recycled rubber products such as rubber mulch, athletic and arena flooring, roof shakes, sidewalk pavers, and playground surfacing.

"We want to help encourage municipalities to rethink the way they approach building or updating community spaces and consider more sustainable options," says Andrew Horsman, executive director of OTS. "Ontario communities invest considerable resources to support recycling as a way to protect our environment – the Community Renewal Fund is one way we can help communities further benefit from that effort."

Ontario-based community groups such as municipalities, non-profit community groups or organizations, schools, or First Nations communities can apply to the Community Renewal Fund for their projects. So far 24 projects have been completed in 17 different communities across Ontario.

For more information about the OTS Community Renewal Fund and to apply online, visit rethinktires.ca.

About the OTS Community Renewal Fund

The Community Renewal Fund is a funding program that is available to help Ontario community groups Rethink, Rebuild and Renew community spaces.

• Rethink the way they approach new projects and consider sustainable options.
• Support Ontario's economy by choosing to Rebuild old or inefficiently used spaces using products made from locally produced recycled materials.
• Renew public areas so they reach their full potential and can be enjoyed by the entire community.

About Ontario Tire Stewardship

Established in 2009, Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) is an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) incorporated under Ontario's Waste Diversion Act, to implement and operate the Used Tires Program.

At OTS, we are transforming the relationship Ontarians have with the lifecycle of their tires, through a comprehensive approach that takes into account our environment, our economy and our quality of life. Through the Used Tires program, 100 per cent of Ontario tires get efficiently and responsibly recycled into new products, leading to more livable communities and a growing green economy in this province. 

SOURCE Ontario Tire Stewardship

To arrange an interview with an Ontario Tire Stewardship representative please contact: Talha Wasti, 416-969-2658, [email protected]; Eric McLean, 416-969-2756, [email protected]