What can be recycled?
Almost every rubber tire produced can be shredded, crumbled up and recycled into a new product. The only exception to date are large industrial truck tires, but work is underway to figure out how these too can be put to good use once they’re no longer roadworthy.
Environmental fees
The $4 environmental fee Albertans pay on the purchase of every new passenger car and truck tire keeps scrap tires out of the landfills and helps put them to good use.
How the environmental fees are used
You can’t put a price on saving the environment. The environmental fees are used to ensure scrap tires stay out of the landfill and are put to good use.
In part, the fee funds the collection, transportation and recycling of tires. With financial incentives from Alberta Recycling, innovative tire processors across the province take the close to 4 million tires Albertans discard every year and turn them into new products that are exported around the world. A portion of the fee also goes to fund research and development of new recycled products and processes. And finally, some is put back into the community through Community Development Grants that help provide recycled tire products for community enhancement projects, like ice rinks, parks and playgrounds.
Where do the fees go?
59% Collection, transportation and recycling of tires
35% Grants to communities using recycled tire products for enhancement projects, R&D, public information & awareness
4% Administration
2% Collection of environmental fees
Bicycle tires too
Since 2006, Alberta Recycling has been operating a pilot program to collect and recycle bicycle tires from locations around the province. Learn more>>>