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More than 600 recycled tires to create Port Coquitlam playground's new surface

James Park Elementary was awarded a $13,000 grant to upgrade its playground and will include a wheelchair accessible path.
PortCoquitlamJamesParkElementaryPlaygroundRecycledTiresJune2022final
School District 43 (SD43) has received a grant to create a new rubber playing surface for the playground at Port Coquitlam's James Park Elementary.

It's a rubber match.

A B.C. specialized recycling non-profit is set to give Port Coquitlam's James Park Elementary a major upgrade — from used car and truck tires.

The rubber off a total of 602 recycled tires will be used to create a new multi-use surface on the School District 43 (SD43) institution's playground, which is set to make the site more wheelchair accessible.

The project is set to be complete some time during the 2022–23 school calendar year, says Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) who is awarding SD43 with a community grant worth $13,376 to install the path.

Rosemary Sutton, TSBC executive director, says rubber is a durable, non-toxic and cost-effective material for playground surfaces.

"Rubber surfacing made from B.C. scrap tires is also non-slip, making it safer for everyone, and it creates a soft landing in playground areas," she said in a statement to the Tri-City News.

"TSBC will continue to look for opportunities to partner with businesses that are making environmentally conscientious decisions and understand the importance of utilizing recycled products in the development of their community infrastructure."

As well, the TSBC believes the local playground also become more "visually attractive" for all to use it.

The 602 wheels being used for James Park Elementary's new playground path are coming from a pile of nearly 15,000 scrap tires to create rubberized surfacing for 13 projects across the province.

Where to recycle tires in the Tri-Cities

TSBC took on the responsibility of overseeing tire recycling in B.C. since 2003, and is considered the oldest recycling program in Canada.

The society says more than 100 million car and truck tires have been recycled in communities across the province since 1991. 

Here are the Tri-City locations associated with TSBC where you can recycle old tires (in alphabetical order):

Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam

Port Moody