Small Actions, Less Waste

What Ontario drivers can do to support responsible used tire management

This week is Waste Reduction Week, which runs from October 19 to 25. Now in its 25th year, Waste Reduction Week offers an opportunity to consider how small, everyday actions can help keep products and materials in use and prevent them from becoming waste.

For tires, those actions begin before it is time for a replacement. Proper maintenance helps tires serve their intended purpose safely, while returning used tires to an enrolled collection site helps them enter Ontario’s tire management system.

Simple Steps for Tire Care

Drivers can take a few straightforward steps:

• Check tire pressure and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Follow the recommended tire rotation and maintenance schedule.
• Have tires inspected for damage or uneven wear.
• Use tires suited to the vehicle, season and driving conditions.

Safety should always come first. A qualified professional should determine whether a tire can remain in service or needs to be replaced. The goal is not to keep every tire on the road for as long as possible, but to care for it properly throughout its service life.

Return Used Tires Through the Collection System

When you replace tires, return them to an enrolled collection site.

The eTracks Tire Management Systems collection network includes participating tire retailers, automotive service centres, municipal sites and other locations across Ontario. Use the eTracks collection site finder to locate an enrolled site, and call ahead to confirm its hours and whether it accepts the type of tire being returned.

Enrolled eTracks collection sites accept used tires from consumers at no charge when they are similar in size and weight to those the site sells or services. Tires on rims are also accepted.

Drop off used tires only during regular business hours. Leaving them outside a closed location or at an unauthorized location does not place them into the collection system.

What Happens Next?

Depending on their condition and the options available, used tires may be reused, retreaded or processed to recover materials such as rubber, steel and fibre.

Recovered materials may be used in construction materials, sporting surfaces, livestock mats, rubber-modified asphalt and other applications. Transportation, processing capacity and demand for recovered materials all influence what happens after collection.

Ready to Return Your Used Tires?

Maintain your tires, replace them when advised by a qualified professional and return used tires through an enrolled collection site.

Visit the eTracks.ca homepage to find an eTracks enrolled collection site.