A Bike Tire Recycling Program is being launched across British Columbia by Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) in conjunction with the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada.
British Columbians will be able to return their used bike tires and tubes to participating bicycle retailers starting June 1. This will help to keep more recyclable rubber products out of landfills.
“The new tire initiative is being introduced in response to the strong interest expressed by BC’s biking community. Unlike TSBC’s Scrap Tire Program, the new bike tire program is completely voluntary for bike retailers,” says Mike Hennessy, Executive Director, Tire Stewardship BC. “Additionally, for bike tires and tubes there’s no eco fee charged to customers or disposal fees for shop owners. Without these expenses, recycling offers a free and environmentally friendly alternative to disposing of bike tires at the landfill.”
Owners of The Shed in Port McNeill and of North Star Cycle and Sports in Port Hardy had not yet been notified of the new program, and Regional District of Mount Waddington Operations Manager Patrick Donahghy said logistics of tire and tube collection on the North Island have yet to be determined.
Seven Mile Landfill is already a certified drop location for TSBC's Scrap Tire Program, and the landfill will accept bike tires and tubes at no cost, Donaghy said.
More information on TSBC and the Bike Tire Recycling Program can be found online at www.tirestewardshipbc.ca/bike.php. A list of participating bike retailers will be made available on the site by the end of June.