The situation regarding used tires in Ontario has reached a critical point, with hundreds of thousands accumulating in various locations such as depots, parking lots, and shops. This troubling development stems from the fact that several companies responsible for tire recycling have halted their collection efforts, largely due to recent changes in provincial recycling regulations. Industry experts indicate that the recycling sector is currently at an impasse, even as consumers continue to pay eco fees intended to support recycling efforts.
According to Adam Moffatt, the executive director of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, some sites are now burdened with more than 500,000 tires waiting to be processed. "If this issue isn’t addressed soon, we could see millions of tires piled up by next summer," he warned, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Since 2019, tire manufacturers in Ontario have been tasked with managing the recycling of their products. However, they can delegate this responsibility to producer responsibility organizations (PROs), which are contracted to handle the collection and processing of tires. In a significant policy shift, the provincial government reduced collection targets for used tires in January 2025. Under the new regulations, tire producers are now only obligated to recycle 65% of the tires collected by weight, down from the previous requirement of 85%.
Despite this reduction in obligations, consumers are still charged approximately five dollars in eco fees for each new tire purchased. This fee is set by the tire manufacturers to cover recycling costs. As a result of the relaxed regulations, there has been a notable increase in surplus tires, and some PROs have reported that they feel no obligation or economic motivation to continue processing them.
Jess Turchet, the communications manager for the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA), stated that tire manufacturers are still required to recycle tires collected at their sites, regardless of whether they meet the new targets. Once these manufacturers meet their recycling quotas, they are allowed to dispose of any excess tires in landfills or incinerate them, which may include exporting them to the United States.
The impact on small recycling businesses has been severe. Donato Ardellini, CEO of a PRO named E360S, shared that his company ceased collections because it was not being compensated for the surplus tires it was handling, resulting in the closure of a recycling facility in Barrie that employed 110 people. He expressed concern about the potential consequences: "If we don’t find a solution quickly, we’ll see tires piling up on the streets. These independent haulers are really struggling because they are not being paid adequately for tire collection."
Currently, Ontario has only seven tire processing facilities operational, down from 17, according to Scott Cavanaugh of All Star Transportation and Tire Recycling. He described the situation as extremely stressful, citing layoffs and concerns about meeting payroll during the holiday season.
In response to the crisis, Cavanaugh is advocating for the provincial government to raise recycling targets and enforce stricter regulations on tire producers. Environment and conservation critic MPP Peter Tabuns criticized the government's handling of the situation, stating that the ongoing disposal methods—like incinerating tires in the U.S.—are unacceptable and reflect a disregard for environmental responsibilities.
As the number of unprocessed tires continues to grow, municipalities might need to implement restrictions on how many tires residents can drop off for recycling, warns Dave Yousif, director of waste management services for Niagara Region.
The growing stockpiles pose significant safety risks as well, particularly concerning fire hazards, an issue that has many in the recycling industry deeply worried. Moffatt pointed out that "there’s an enormous safety concern,” especially given the memories of past disasters like the infamous 1990 Hagersville tire fire, which consumed 14 million tires and led to a reevaluation of regulatory practices.
The Ministry of the Environment is currently collaborating with the RPRA to address these disruptions in tire collection, according to spokesperson Gary Wheeler. However, the ministry has not yet commented on concerns related to tire incineration, the hazards posed by stockpiles, or the potential shutdowns of recycling businesses.
