The Canadian Association of Tire Recycling Agencies (CATRA) has released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a decade of steady growth and innovation in tire recycling across the country. The report showcases how provincial programs, including Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC), continue to advance sustainability through efficient tire collection, processing, and reuse.

National Tire Recycling Overview

Over the past ten years, Canada’s annual national tire collection has grown from 396k tonnes in 2014 to 460k tonnes in 2024. Of this, British Columbia diverted 56k tonnes from landfills.

How Canada Diverts Old Tires

Provinces transform old tires into a wide variety of new and innovative products. In 2024, the national end uses included:

• Rubber crumb
• Molded rubber
• Tire-derived aggregate
• Steel
• Rubber mulch
• Blasting mats
• Tire-derived fuel
• Fibre
• Other tire products

British Columbia continues to stand out as a leader in tire recycling and circular economy innovation. All tires collected in BC are processed, used, and recycled within the province, a closed-loop model that supports local businesses and sustainability.

In BC, recycled tires are transformed into rubber crumb, steel, rubber mulch, fibre, and fuel. Manufacturers then turn much of the recycled rubber into new products, including mats for agricultural, recreational, and automotive applications.

Related: 4 Innovative Products Made in BC from Recycled Tire Rubber

A Legacy of Innovation and Impact

TSBC launched Canada’s first tire recycling program in 1991, setting the standard for extended producer responsibility (EPR) models worldwide. Many countries now look for guidance from TSBC when developing their own tire recycling systems.

Each year, BC collects and processes more than 5 million car tire equivalents, totaling over 121 million tires since the program began.

Through the TSBC Community Grant Program, over $6.5 million in grants have supported 360 community projects since 2009, including playgrounds, running tracks, arena flooring, and water park surfaces, all made using BC recycled rubber.

In 2024, TSBC focused on improving efficiency by transitioning from paper to electronic field data capture for all tire collection activities. The organization also partnered with other BC EPR programs to expand services to First Nations communities and continued to support initiatives such as The Ocean Legacy Foundation.