TORONTO—Ontario Tire Stewardship has cut its paper usage 98 percent with the introduction of its new TreadMarks Mobile electronic manifest system, OTS said in a press release.
Since launching TreadMarks on Aug. 1, OTS has virtually eliminated paper-based manifest forms, reduced administration costs and provided a more efficient way for participants in the OTS program to submit information, according to OTS.
At the same time, TreadMarks has improved data quality for OTS and allowed the program to enhance its existing claims process validation and controls, it said.
The new system works by enabling scrap tire transporters and processors to process claims through the use of iPad minis.
Since the introduction of TreadMarks, OTS has distributed 550 iPads, it said. In the first month of operations, 7,503 transactions were processed through TreadMarks, saving 23,844 sheets of paper, according to OTS.
TreadMarks allows real-time transactions, allowing OTS to analyze field activity quickly, OTS said. Under TreadMarks, iPads are GPS-enabled to help track pickup times and locations and ensure smooth operations, it said.
“TreadMarks Mobile marks a new era for Ontario Tire Stewardship,” OTS Executive Director Andrew Horsman said. “The new system enables us to further enhance our sustainable practices while saving time and reducing costs.”
Established in 2009, OTS is an Industry Funding Organization incorporated under Ontario's Waste Diversion Act to implement and operate the province's used tires program.