• How to recycle

    Tires

Tire Recycling in Ontario: What to Know Before You Drop Off Old Tires

You can recycle tires for free at approved tire drop-off locations across Ontario. Most retail tire stores and municipal depots accept up to 10 passenger or light truck tires per person per day, including tires on rims. To find verified tire drop-off locations near you, use the Recyclability collection finder tool.

If you are looking for tire recycling in Ontario, Recyclability provides clear guidance on tire disposal, where to take old tires in Ontario, and how used tire recycling works. Whether you have loose tires or rim and tire disposal needs, you can access free options province-wide.

Ontario’s regulated tire recycling system helps keep tires out of landfills and illegal dumping sites while supporting material recovery across the province. Using verified tire drop-off locations helps ensure tires are recycled safely through approved collection networks before they are processed into new materials and products.

Ontario Tire Recycling Explained

  • A pile of car tires waiting to be recycled.

    Drop-Off is Always Free

    Ontario residents can return used tires at no cost through regulated tire recycling programs.

    • Free residential tire drop-off is available province-wide.
    • Up to 10 passenger or light truck tires per person per day are accepted.
    • Tires on rims are included within the 10-tire daily limit.
    • No disposal fee is charged at approved collection sites.
    • Only residential quantities are eligible under this program.
    • To locate a participating site, use the collection finder tool below.

    Approved residential drop-off locations form part of Ontario’s regulated tire collection network.

    Tire Collection Location Finder
  • A semi truck unloading a large bin full of car tires.

    Tires Accepted

    Retail Tire Stores

    • Accept tires that are similar in size and type to those sold or serviced at that location. 
    • Must accept up to 10 tires per person per day.
    • Includes tires on rims within the daily limit.

    Municipal Depots

    •  Accept up to 10 passenger and light truck tires per person per day.
    • Tires on rims are permitted.
    • May have site-specific operating hours.

    These locations form part of Ontario’s regulated used tire recycling network.

  • A human inspecting a used racing car tire

    Tires Not Accepted

    Some types of tires are not included in the residential tire recycling program:

    • Muscle-powered vehicle tires (e.g., bicycles, strollers, kick scooters)
    • Power-assisted bicycle tires (e-bikes)
    • Personal mobility device tires (e.g., wheelchairs)

    These items may require a different recycling or disposal route because they fall outside this residential tire collection stream.

    Explore Other Recycling Streams

  • Ontario’s broader tire recycling system can also include tires from motorcycles, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, riding lawn mowers, transport trucks, and some industrial or agricultural equipment. However, acceptance rules may vary by site, tire size, and collection program.

    Always confirm acceptance before visiting a site.

    Check Tire Drop-Off Locations

  • Why Proper Tire Disposal Matters

    Old tires are bulky, difficult to manage in regular waste systems, and should never be illegally dumped or placed in household garbage. Improper tire disposal can create environmental problems, increase cleanup costs, and take up unnecessary landfill space.

    Used tire recycling helps recover valuable materials such as rubber and steel. These materials can be reused in new products and manufacturing applications. There is also a very small amount of fibre that is recovered in the process, but this cannot be repurposed. Recycled tire materials may be used in products such as flooring, paving materials, sports surfaces, and other industrial applications.

    Responsible tire recycling also supports safer waste management systems across Ontario by keeping large materials out of regular garbage streams and directing them into approved recycling programs.

    Learn More About Recycling in Ontario

  • How To Prepare Tires for Drop-Off

    Before visiting a tire recycling location, it is important to confirm what the site accepts and prepare tires properly for transport. While many approved sites accept tires on rims, some locations may have specific limits or operating requirements depending on tire size and type.

    Before drop-off:

    • Count your tires before visiting the site
    • Confirm whether your tires are passenger, trailer, or light truck tires
    • Check whether the location accepts tires on rims
    • Review site hours and daily quantity limits before travelling

    Preparing tires ahead of time helps make tire disposal faster, easier, and safer for both residents and collection staff.

    Find a Tire Drop-Off Location
A worker in a recycling plant moving a used tire off of a conveyor belt.

break down the tires

Shredding and Grinding Tires

  • Tire recyclers start by shredding old tires into smaller pieces. This step makes handling easier and exposes the various materials used in tire manufacturing.
  • The shredded tire pieces are then ground further to create crumb rubber. These fine rubber granules can be processed for a variety of applications.
A closeup of some machinery in a tire recycling plant. The operator of the machinery observes the machine while it operates.

Separate tire materials

Steel and Fiber Separation

  • After shredding, the tire material undergoes a process to remove steel wires and fibre components.
  • Powerful magnets and specialized separation systems are used to recover steel from the rubber. The recovered steel can then be recycled into new metal products.
A worker in a recycling plant moving a used tire off of a conveyor belt.

tires have valuable materials

Crumb Rubber Production

  • Processed tire rubber is refined into crumb rubber that can be reused in new products.
  • Crumb rubber may be used in applications such as playground surfaces, athletic tracks, paving materials, landscaping products, and manufactured rubber materials.

Tire Drop-Off Preparation Checklist

Before dropping off old tires, take a few minutes to confirm local collection details and prepare tires safely for transport.

  • Confirm your tire type is accepted before visiting the site.
  • Check whether tires on rims are permitted at your selected location.
  • Review site hours, quantity limits, and collection rules before travelling.
  • Keep tires secure and ready for safe transport during drop-off.

Use verified Tire Drop-Off Locations in Ontario before making a trip.

Support Responsible Tire Recycling Ontario

Responsible tire recycling helps recover useful materials, reduce landfill waste, and support safer recycling systems across Ontario. If you need a verified tire drop-off site or want to confirm local options before travelling, use the collection finder to locate an approved recycling location near you.

Use the Collection Finder

Frequently Asked Questions

You can take old tires to a local recycling facility, participate in tire collection events, or contact a tire disposal service. Many retailers also offer tire take-back programs.
Ontario residents can dispose of tires through approved retail tire stores, municipal depots, and regulated recycling locations. Always confirm accepted tire types before visiting a site.
You can use the Recyclability collection finder to locate approved tire recycling and tire drop-off locations across Ontario.
Used tire recycling involves processing old tires so materials such as rubber and steel can be recovered and reused in new products.
Yes. Many approved tire recycling locations accept tires on rims within the residential daily limit, although site-specific rules may still apply.
Many Ontario tire recycling programs accept trailer tires, including utility trailer and some RV trailer tires. Always confirm local site acceptance before visiting a drop-off location.