How to Dispose of Tires for Free

That pile of old tires in your yard can become a mosquito breeding ground, a home for rats and other vermin or even a fire threat. Scrap tires aren’t biodegradable either, meaning they take up large amounts of space in landfills and will never decompose like other materials might. Getting rid of old tires should be a priority for these reasons, but throwing them out in a landfill isn't the answer. To avoid tire piles, permanent solid waste and tire fires, states and local government regulate tire disposal to minimize the presence of these toxic qualities.

There are several options for free tire disposal, so choose the most convenient one for you. From tire shops to hazardous waste disposal services, you have many options. If you cannot find a free option nearby, you might need to pay a small fee, but this is better than paying an improper disposal fee.

Drop them Off at the Retailer

Many tire retailers will dispose of old vehicle tires for free if you buy new tires, making it a kind of trade off that benefits both you and the retailer.. Call around to your local stores to see if any offer this service and if you are required to buy new tires to access this service as well. Arrange to take your car in for tire work when you find a shop that is willing to get rid of the old ones for you.

Get Paid for your Tires

You may be able to find other locations that will pay you for them as well. Find options for getting paid for your old tires. Gas stations, auto repair shops and tire stores will often pay for used tires that are in good condition. Contact a few to make sure you get the best deal.

Local Waste Disposal

Check with your town's waste disposal department to see whether you can bring tires to a waste disposal facility for free. As Earth911 notes, many communities have a "tire amnesty day" that allows residents to drop off old tires for free, though they may restrict the number of tires. Plan to bring your tires to the facility during this time period to take advantage of the waste management service.

Ask the Tire Dealer

Contact the tire's manufacturer. This brand information should be written on the tire. Ask whether they run a take-back or mail-back program for old tires. Arrange to dispose of your tires through this program, and be sure to ask if they charge a tire fee or make you pay for a tire transporter.

Recycle Your Tires

Search Earth911 for a recycling program for waste tires near you. To do this, Go to Earth 911's Find Recycling Centers website. Type "used tires" in the "Find Recycling Centers For" search box, type your ZIP code or address in the "Near" box, then click "Search." A list will appear showing facilities that will recycle your tires, along with their contact information.

Of course, you can always call a recycling facility near you after finding it yourself and inquire about their recycling progrms for tires. Some may charge a small fee to dispose of the tires. It’s better to find a way to reuse the car tire materials than throwing them away where they will go to waste. Not only will the actual tire materials go a long way at a tire recycling center, but the rims of your tires could be of use as scrap metal as well.

If you don’t want to do this, think back to your childhood and consider making a tire swing out of whatever tires you have on hand. You could hang it in your own yard, donate it to a neighbor or gift it to a local playground or daycare. It won’t go to waste once you add it to the many playground surfaces that young kids in your community can enjoy!