Project Aims To Recycle Half Million Tires In Iowa

The state of Iowa has put together a partnership that aims to provide recycled rubber safety tiles to playgrounds in the state of Iowa.

The partnership brings the Iowa Department of Natural Resource together with the Iowa Association of School Boards, GreenMan Technologies, and GreenMan’s wholly owned subsidiary, Welch Products, Inc. The groups are implementing the Iowa Safe School Playground Initiative, which, in addition to providing surface cover for the schools, will go toward boosting the awareness of recycling scrap tires in the state.

The Iowa DNR provided matching grant awards in the form of rubber tiles for playground surfacing made from recycled tires, and Welch Products’ subsidiary, National Safe Surface Initiative will supply the recycled rubber safety tiles. This recycling education initiative will generate consumption of more than .5 million pounds of recycled crumb rubber.

NSSI will be responsible for the initial site visit, design, installation oversight, ADA playground access certification, and Consumer Products Safety Commission safety certification upon completion of each project. More than 20 playground grants were awarded to Iowa schools.

Brian Tormey, chief of Iowa DNR’s Land Quality Bureau, said that IASB selecting GreenMan to facilitate this initiative was a natural choice. "Our office has worked with GreenMan over the years in the clean-up of illegal tire piles."

Lyle Jensen, GreenMan’s CEO noted, "There are multiple benefits of this program. The scrap tire education initiative not only provides our kids with safer, cleaner playgrounds, but it also provides a creative model for implementing recycled products."