Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling in Ontario. Some industry insiders are sounding the alarm | CBC News

"Since 2019, tire producers in Ontario have been responsible for recycling individually, but can outsource their responsibility for recycling quotas to so-called producer responsibility organizations, or PROs, who contract haulers and recyclers to collect and process tires. But in January 2025, the provincial government eliminated collection targets for used tires. Tire producers are now only required to recycle 65 per cent of used tires collected by weight, rather than 85 per cent. Despite the change, consumers still pay about five dollars in eco fees per new tire a rate set by tire producers to cover the costs of recycling. With the new lower regulations, there is now a mounting surplus of tires that some PROs say they have no obligation or economic incentive to process."

"The Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA), the provincial regulator, requires tire producers to continue recycling tires from their collection sites whether targets are met or not, Jess Turchet, RPRA manager of communications, said in an email. Once tire producers meet their recycling targets, the current regulations allow them to dispose of used tires in landfills or to incinerate them, including by shipping to the U.S., Turchet said."

"Adam Moffatt, executive director of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, says some sites have over 500,000 tires stockpiled. We could have millions and millions of tires stockpiled [by next summer]," Moffatt said."

Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling up across Ontario as some recycling companies have stopped processing tires. Some sites hold over 500,000 stockpiled tires with projections potentially reaching millions by next summer. Since 2019, tire producers became responsible for recycling but can outsource obligations to producer responsibility organizations (PROs). In January 2025, the province removed collection targets and lowered the required recycling rate to 65 percent by weight from 85 percent. Consumers continue to pay about five dollars in eco fees per new tire. Lower regulations have created a surplus that many PROs lack incentive to process, and small recycling businesses face unpaid contracts, layoffs and shutdowns.

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