Western Rubber Products Celebrates 100-Millionth Tire Recycled in B.C.

Delta, British Columbia – During the kick-off of Canada’s 20th annual Waste Reduction Week, Western Rubber Products (WRP) in Delta British Columbia, a division of Liberty Tire Recycling, celebrated the ongoing success of their B.C. service model, which recycles over five million tires annually and repurposes them into new and diverse consumer products – contributing to Canada’s circular economy. 

Over the last several months, WRP has recycled the 100-millionth tire in the province, a milestone recognized today with industry stakeholders, local government representatives, partner businesses, and employees at the company’s long-time headquarters in Delta.  

As the largest recycler of scrap tires in B.C., WRP has been safely serving every part of the province sustainably and reliably for over three decades. Working under Tire Stewardship BC in compliance with the B.C. Recycling Regulation, the company has been the province’s primary collector and recycler of used tires since 1989, with exceptional customer service. WRP ensures expert handling of every type of car and truck tire, as well as other varieties, ranging from off-road to giant, mining truck tires. 

“Every tire we handle is a tire that is kept out of B.C.’s landfills and our natural environment, with materials repurposed into innovative, new and useful products,” said Neil Bansal, Regional Vice-President of Western Rubber Products, a division of Liberty Tire. “Our service model ensures we serve every part of the province, even rural areas,” said Bansal, “and as the province’s primary tire recycler, we’re the only company with the critical mass necessary to handle both the pick-up and the processing of millions of tires every year at the end of their roadworthy life.” 

Product stewards including Kal Tire, North West Rubber, Marathon Surfaces and Astroturf West were joined by Delta Mayor George V. Harvie and Tire Stewardship BC at the event, which included video remarks from Delta North MLA and Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman, and Delta South MLA Ian Paton. 

“Innovation is at the forefront for WRP as it invests in cutting edge products for repurposed tires and supports the equipment required to get each job done,” said Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, Ravi Kahlon. “It’s that kind of forward thinking that has also led to it celebrating 100 million tires recycled as part of Waste Reduction Week. This type of initiative leads to a cleaner province and more opportunities for everyone.” 

WRP recycles over five million scrap tires every year, employing more than 120 full-time workers at their operations in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The company also works with numerous trucking contractors to transport tires throughout the province. Recycled products like decorative mulch are in high demand, and different grades of ‘crumb rubber’ are used in the production of residential and industrial rubber mats, athletic surfaces, landscaping and a wide range of other applications where durability is paramount. 

“We are proud to have a legacy company like Western Rubber Products operating in Delta,” said Delta Mayor George V. Harvie. “WRP’s successful waste reduction model and sustainable practices help us work towards a zero-waste economy.” 

WRP also partners with university research teams to stay at the cutting edge of tire recycling innovation –investing in research and development to build longer-lasting roads, and identifying new value-added uses for tire fibre to extract even more value from recycled materials. 

About Western Rubber Products 

Based in Delta, Western Rubber Products, a division of Liberty Tire, is the leading provider of tire recycling services in British Columbia. The company reclaims rubber to create a wide range of sustainable, commercial and post-consumer products. Part of the Liberty Tire Recycling family, they are connected to a North America-wide network of processing plants and comprehensive, door-to-door collection services. www.western-rubber.com 

About Waste Reduction Week in Canada 

Waste Reduction Week in Canada is a year-round program, focused on the principles of circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. The program’s primary purpose is to celebrate our environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions. The celebratory nature of the campaign is what motivates learning and behaviour change. 

The program’s educational resources and “take action” messaging empower all Canadians to adopt more environmentally conscious choices. Waste Reduction Week in Canada further provides information and ideas to reduce waste in all facets of daily living, creating the solutions to the many environmental challenges we face including climate change, water pollution and preservation of natural resources. More information about Waste Reduction Week in Canada can be found at this link.