How to Properly Dispose of Used Tires

Old tires can be donated or recycled into a variety of materials.

Ronan Glon | 

Sep 9, 2024 | 2 min read

Getty Images

In the United States, roughly 280 million worn-out tires are discarded every year. About 76% of them get recycled. Repair shops normally recycle your used tires after installing new ones, which explains why they charge a tire disposal fee. But getting rid of old tires you might have in your garage can be more time consuming. Here's what to do with them.

Used Tires Can Become a Hazard

Throwing a used set of tires in the trash isn't an option. Tires aren't biodegradable, and landfills that process trash aren't always equipped to recycle them. Dumping used tires in a landfill is illegal in many states. Every state in the U.S. has a tire recycling program.

Environmental concerns prompted the bans. Tires that haven't been properly disposed of can pollute water and the soil, and if burned, they release toxic fumes.

Recycling Centers Accept Used Tires

One way to recycle tires is to simply drop them off at a recycling facility, though you may have to pay a disposal charge. Some municipalities offer a convenient tire pick-up service. While this can be free, it may not be offered year-round. There also might be a limit to the number of tires you can recycle. Note that the tires need to be taken off the rim.

Bringing used tires to an auto repair shop is another option, though you should call first to ensure they accept drop-offs. Not every business takes used tires, and many charge a disposal fee. Alternatively, junk removal services usually pick up used tires, though this is one of the more expensive solutions.

Recycled Tire Materials Serve a Wide Variety of Uses

After removing the steel wires, recycling centers feed used tires into a machine that breaks them down into chips or a powder. Recycled tires are commonly used to make flood-control blocks, long-lasting composite boards, playground equipment, and even fuel for cement kilns.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.