Almost every type of tire can be recycled in Alberta. The most common are those found on your car or truck. However, Alberta's tire recycling program includes off-road tires and specialty tires that are used on construction and industrial equipment. The six million tires Albertans discard every year are diverted from landfills, made into shred or crumbs, and put to good use once again as new products.

All vehicle tires, as well as construction, industrial, and off-the-road tires are recycled right here in Alberta.

The scrap tires are picked up from tire shops, vehicle dealers, automotive repair shops or municipal collection sites (recycling depots) across the province by the registered tire processors. The tires are run through a shredder, which is the final stage of processing for almost half the scrap tires generated in a year, and the other half of the tires are processed into crumb rubber.

Recycled scrap tires are turned into:

• Drainage material in municipal landfills, replacing expensive washed rock
• Playground surfaces
• Sidewalk blocks, matting products and roofing tiles
• Mulch for landscaping
• Whatever innovative Albertans will think of next!

You can normally take your tires to a collection site near you—use our Depot Finder—however, you can contact your local 4-H Alberta who will collect old tires and electronics from farms, acreages, and residences. You can also contact one of our registered processors to arrange a pick-up if you have a large volume of tires—typically 100 or more.

Yes. Since 2007 bicycle commuters and casual cyclists have been able to recycle their used bicycle tires at a number of locations throughout the province. "Bike tire cages" have been set up in the parking lots of various sporting goods stores, cycle shops or recycling depots.

A list of locations accepting bicycle tires is available on our Bicycle Tire Recycling page.

Albertans are champion recyclers. In 2016 we celebrated the recycling of 100 million tires. That is enough to wrap around the equator twice! To date, 137 million tires have been recycled.

Approximately 50% were processed into crumb that was used by manufacturers to make recycled tire products such as playground surfacing, roofing shingles and sidewalk blocks, to name a few. The other half was processed into shred for use by municipalities as drainage material (in place of washed rock) in their landfills.

Please refer to the list of processors for product information.

Please visit Municipal Grant Program for an update on the grant program.

Yes. The tires brought in from other countries will one day be recycled as part of Alberta’s tire recycling program and are subject to the same environmental fee charged on every new tire in Alberta.*

*Tires with a rim size less than 8 inches (20 cm) are exempt.

ARMA does not provide any support, financial or otherwise for the reuse, supply or sale of used tires. Further ARMA does not endorse or recommend the collection, sorting, culling or grading of used tires for reuse, supply or resale. Due to the unknown condition of used tires, the reuse, supply or sale of used tires poses significant risks of tire failure that may result in damage, loss, bodily injury or death. ARMA disclaims any and all liability for any damages, losses, injuries or death arising from the reuse, supply or sale of used tires