BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. (June 26, 2007) – Most places recycle aluminum cans, plastics and paper. But, how many of these places can say they use recycled products as part of their landscape? Thanks to a recent project, a Richmond-area Firestone Complete Auto Care™ location can. Located at Virginia Center Commons in Richmond, Firestone Complete Auto Care is working with National Tire Recycling, LLC to use tire mulch in their storefront landscaping.

According to the Scrap Tire Management Council, people in the United States discard about 270 million tires every year. Recycling tires into safe and effective mulch provides a way for companies committed to recycling to have a positive impact on their communities. The Richmond store is one of the first Firestone Complete Auto Care locations in the country to use the mulch produced with recycled tires. This landscape project used the equivalent of hundreds of tires.

“We are committed to researching and producing innovative and cutting-edge technology in our tires as well as in our environmental and community efforts,” said John Sheerin, Environmental Manager for BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC, parent company of Firestone Complete Auto Care. “We strive to be leaders by supporting community-based clean-up efforts and programs for recycling used automotive products.”

BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) embraces a wide variety of environmental programs and initiatives, including recycling scrap tires, oil, oil filters, antifreeze, air conditioning refrigerant, batteries and lead wheel weights, as well as other items. On average, a Firestone Complete Auto Care location collects and recycles approximately 500 scrap tires each month.

In spring 2007, for the sixth consecutive year, each of BFRC’s retail stores nationwide— including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus™ and ExpertTire™ stores—accepted at no charge used engine oil, automotive batteries and scrap tires from the public for proper recycling as part of the company’s partnership with the Keep America Beautiful® Great American Cleanup™. The use of recycled mulch at this Richmond location continues BFRC’s commitment to the program.

BFRC’s vision is to be unsurpassed in earning and sustaining superior customer loyalty in all phases of its business. Projects like these reflect BFRC teammates’ commitment to enhancing and protecting the nation’s environment as part of their ongoing dedication to their customers and communities.