Liberty Tire Recycling information booth at British Columbia Tire Round Up
Residents across British Columbia continue to make a positive environmental impact through community tire recycling events. In September, Liberty Tire Recycling partnered with Tire Stewardship BC and Duka Environmental Services Ltd. to support tire roundup events in both Kelowna and Prince George, helping divert more than 3,000 unwanted tires from potential landfills, illegal dumping sites, acreages, and farmers' fields.
Helping Keep British Columbia Clean Through Tire Recycling
Community tire collection events provide residents with a convenient way to recycle unwanted tires while helping keep communities clean.
In Kelowna, Liberty Tire Recycling partnered with Tire Stewardship BC and Duka Environmental Services to collect 939 tires in four hours. In Prince George, a major transportation and trucking hub in central British Columbia, Liberty collected more than 2,100 tires during a similar four-hour event while engaging residents in conversations about tire recycling and sustainability.
Together, these efforts helped divert more than 3,000 tires from the waste stream and highlighted the importance of responsible tire management across the province.
Expanding Tire Recycling Efforts Across British Columbia
The Kelowna tire roundup is part of a broader effort to increase access to tire recycling throughout British Columbia.
In addition to supporting collection events, Liberty Tire Recycling engages directly with community members to raise awareness about how scrap tires are recycled and transformed into new products. At the Prince George event, Liberty team members connected with residents throughout the day, answering questions about tire recycling and the role recycled rubber plays in supporting a circular economy.
These community partnerships help reduce illegal dumping, increase recycling participation, and promote long-term environmental stewardship across the province.
Why Tire Recycling Matters in British Columbia, Canada
Improperly discarded tires are commonly dumped waste materials in rural areas. Beyond creating visual pollution, abandoned tires can become an environmental and public health concern.
Old tires often collect rainwater, creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Even small amounts of standing water can support mosquito larvae development, contributing to larger mosquito populations in surrounding communities.
Benefits of tire recycling include:
- Diverting tires from landfills and illegal dumping sites
- Reducing mosquito breeding habitats
- Protecting farms, acreages, and natural spaces
- Supporting sustainable resource recovery
- Promoting environmental stewardship across British Columbia
Giving Tires a Second Life
Through Tire Stewardship BC's province-wide recycling program, collected tires are processed and transformed into valuable products, including:
- Playground surfacing
- Running and athletic tracks
- Livestock and agricultural mats
- Safety flooring and rubber products
- Other recycled rubber applications
This process helps keep tires out of landfills while creating useful products that benefit communities across British Columbia and benefiting its circular economy.
A Decade of Environmental and Community Impact
For the past 10 years, the Regional District of Central Okanagan's annual tire recycling event has helped remove more than 15,000 unwanted tires from local properties and communities.
The success of events like those held in Kelowna and Prince George demonstrates the ongoing value of community partnerships in addressing environmental challenges. Together, recent collection events in the two communities diverted more than 3,000 tires, helping prevent illegal dumping, and support cleaner, healthier environments across British Columbia.
Tire Recycling Collection and Processing Locations in Canada
While Liberty Tire Recycling entered Canada in 2010, our British Columbia facility has operated since 1989. Together, this reflects more than 37 years of tire recycling experience, supporting communities and sustainability efforts across the province through programs, partnerships, and events like those held in Kelowna and Prince George. Liberty Tire Recycling collects and processes tires in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
Through the Return to Retailer (R2R) program, hundreds of collection locations across British Columbia accept eligible tires for recycling. Residents can drop off up to four clean, off-rim tires at participating locations. To ensure a site has available capacity, it's recommended to call ahead before visiting.
To learn more about operating hours, tires accepted, and other program details, please visit https://tsbc.ca/recycle-your-tires/.
Key Takeaways
- Liberty Tire Recycling partnered with Tire Stewardship BC and Duka Environmental Services Ltd. to support tire recycling events in Kelowna and Prince George, BC.
- 939 tires were collected in Kelowna, and more than 2,100 tires were collected in Prince George.
- Together, the events diverted more than 3,000 tires from potential landfills and illegal dumping sites.
- Tire recycling helps reduce mosquito breeding habitats created by standing water in discarded tires.
- Recycled tires are transformed into products such as playground surfaces, athletic tracks, and agricultural mats.
- The Central Okanagan tire recycling event has helped remove more than 15,000 tires over the past decade.
- Liberty Tire Recycling has supported British Columbia's tire recycling efforts for more than 37 years through its local operations and community partnerships.
FAQ
Q: How many tires were collected during Liberty Tire Recycling's recent BC tire roundup events?
A: Liberty Tire Recycling and its partners collected 939 tires in Kelowna and more than 2,100 tires in Prince George, diverting over 3,000 tires from potential landfills, illegal dumping sites, fields, and other areas where they can impact the environment.
Q: Why is tire recycling important in British Columbia?
A: Tire recycling helps divert waste from landfills, reduces illegal dumping, conserves natural resources, and supports the production of recycled rubber products used in communities across British Columbia.
Q: How do old tires contribute to mosquito problems in BC?
A: Discarded tires can collect and hold rainwater, creating ideal conditions for mosquito larvae to develop. Recycling unwanted tires helps eliminate one of the most common mosquito breeding habitats and supports healthier communities.
Q: What happens to recycled tires in British Columbia?
A: Through Tire Stewardship BC's province-wide recycling program, scrap tires are processed and transformed into products such as playground surfacing, running tracks, livestock mats, safety flooring, and other recycled rubber applications.
Q: Who partnered on the Kelowna tire recycling event?
A: The Kelowna event was supported by Liberty Tire Recycling, Tire Stewardship BC, Duka Environmental Services Ltd., and the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
Q: How long has Liberty Tire Recycling operated in British Columbia?
A: While Liberty Tire Recycling expanded into Canada in 2010, its British Columbia facility has served the region since 1989. Together, this represents more than 37 years of tire recycling experience and service in the province.
Q: Where can residents recycle tires if they miss a collection event?
A: Residents can find approved year-round tire recycling locations through Tire Stewardship BC's return-to-retailer program by visiting www.tsbc.ca.
Q: What types of tires are accepted at community tire recycling events?
A: Events typically accept passenger vehicle tires, spare tires, bicycle tires, and inner tubes. Residents should check event-specific guidelines for accepted materials and quantity limits.
Q: Why does Liberty Tire Recycling participate in community tire roundup events?
A: Community collection events help increase access to tire recycling, prevent illegal dumping, reduce environmental impacts, and educate residents about the benefits of recycling scrap tires. These events also strengthen partnerships that support cleaner, healthier communities across British Columbia.
