× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

NORMAL — Andrew Stevens gladly spent his Saturday morning tossing tires in the back of a semitruck.

“It feels good helping out the community,” the 14-year-old said.

Andrew tagged along with his dad, Kelly Stevens of Normal, to help collect used tires from the community to be recycled at Bridgestone Americas Off Road Tire at 1600 Fort Jesse Road in Normal.

“This event helps put tires back into recycling rather than landfills,” said Kelly Stevens, a radial tire builder at Bridgestone.

In its fourth year, the Bridgestone event collected all types of tires, from go-kart to the tractor variety, to be sent to Liberty Tire Recycling.

The recycling company shreds the rubber tires and makes the material into welcome mats, railroad ties, athletic tracks, an additive for highway asphalt and mulch for playgrounds and flowerbeds.

Recycled rubber mulch reduces the harvesting of trees for wood ground cover, is cheaper than wood mulch and promotes safety on playgrounds.