Students to roll out green designs with scrap tires
Students will use products made from recycled tires to enrich YMCA's downtown space
TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - For the second year in a row, Ontario students are being challenged to beautify a community space using environmentally-friendly products made from recycled tires.
During the second annual OTS Student Design Challenge, students will compete to have their design selected and built at the new concourse of the YMCA of Greater Toronto's central location. The challenge offers students the opportunity to have their design implemented at a meaningful community organization, and the chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarship funds. It also exposes them to environmentally-progressive products made from recycled tires.
"The design challenge at the YMCA will benefit community members for years to come" said Andrew Horsman, Executive Director at Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS). "We hope the challenge will increase community organizations' use of environmentally-friendly products, like those made from recycled tires, while inspiring students to incorporate these products into future designs."
The challenge begins with a Design Jam, a two-day event held January 18th and 19th at YMCA's central location. Here, students will learn details of the unique design opportunity and will work with design professionals, manufacturers of products made from recycled tires and YMCA representatives to develop design concepts. Students will present their plans to a panel of judges, consisting of experts from industry, academia, YMCA and OTS. The winning design will be announced on January 19th and it will be implemented at YMCA Central during the spring and summer of 2013.
"The Y is committed to adapting to the needs of the community as it changes and grows," said Mehdi Zobeiry, Vice President, YMCA of Greater Toronto. "This design project with OTS allows us to take underused space and turn it into a more sustainable area that will contribute to the health of our community. Our members can look forward to an extension of our Centre of Community in a new environmentally-friendly space."
Kiosks displaying products made from recycled tires are being featured at YMCA Central until December 12, 2012. Members are able to answer questions on usage and provide feedback, which will help inform the design.
The winners of the 2011 design challenge reinterpreted a community space at the Evergreen Brick Works last summer, using products made from recycled tires. The design mimics the curves and colours of Mud River, a tributary of the Don River running beneath the site.
The 2013 design challenge is open to Ontario post-secondary students. Registration is open until December 17th and participants are announced January 7th. To learn more visit www.otsdesignchallenge.ca.
For more information about Ontario Tire Stewardship visit www.RethinkTires.ca and www.GreenMyTires.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @GreenMyTires.
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.
The program recycles and reuses the 12 million tires sold annually in the province, preventing them from ending up in landfills or being dumped illegally. Instead, OTS directs these scrap tires to recyclers who use them to make new green products for a variety of applications including home, garden, school, arena, park and more. Beyond recycling, OTS also educates and encourages Ontarians on the use of tire-derived products - items made from used tires that last longer and work better than similar products in market, and educates Ontario drivers on how to get the most life and performance from their tires.
For more information, please visit www.GreenMyTires.ca. Follow us on Twitter: @GreenMyTires
SOURCE: Ontario Tire Stewardship
To arrange an interview with an Ontario Tire Stewardship or YMCA representative please contact:
Vanessa Ciccone
416-969-2717
[email protected]
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