Tire Take Back Events hosted by auto recyclers across the province this spring – including at least two in this county – have raised almost $358,000 for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.
Between May 28 and June 2, Ontarians dropped off over 139,000 used tires at 72 locations across the province, raising $357,960 for the foundation, which fulfills the dreams of children with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.
“Congratulations to Ontarians for their outstanding recycling efforts and creating the most successful tire collection event to date,” said Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship, which organizes the event along with the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA).
Owner Bob Vanleeuwen, said the event at Fergus Auto Recyclers was a great success, raising about $11,000 and collecting the equivalent of about 4,000 tires.
“It was real nice to see the community behind us,” said Vanleeuwen of the support of local residents, businesses and community groups. “It was a real community thing.”
It was a similar story at Erin Auto Recyclers, where owner Rob Smith and his staff collected 3,000 tires and raised over $7,600 – more than double the total from 2011.
“We were thrilled with what we produced. It was a really good experience,” said Smith.
“It worked out really good for us and it worked out great for the Sunshine Foundation … At the end of the day, the kids win.”
Both Smith and Vanleeuwen said their respective communities deserve the most credit for the success of the Fergus and Erin events – not the businesses themselves.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Smith said.
He and Vanleeuwen said local businesses helped distribute flyers about the tire events and the media, including radio stations, helped promote the events.
“All I can say, is thank you,” Vanleeuwen said.
The six-day recycling blitz helped divert tires from landfills, while raising money to assist the Sunshine Foundation.
The collection allowance OARA members receive for each tire dropped off is matched by OARA and, coupled with donations from registered tire haulers Liberty Tire Recycling and Trillium Tire, resulted in the overall donation to the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.
“The number of tires collected nearly tripled last year’s amount, and stacked on top of each other, could be the height of more than 65 CN Towers,” said Horsman.
This year’s fundraising total was also three times last year’s figure and almost 140 per cent higher than the 2012 goal of $150,000.
