For 35 years, TSBC has helped build a recycling system that keeps tires out of landfills and valuable materials in use. Every tire you recycle becomes part of a province-wide circular economy that transforms old tires into new products made right here in BC.

From the moment a tire reaches the end of its life to the moment it becomes something new, here’s how the tire recycling system works in BC.

Related: A Canadian first that started in BC

Stage 1: Knowing When It’s Time

Every tire reaches the end of its road eventually. Car tires should be replaced when the tread depth falls below 1.6 mm (the legal minimum in BC), when they’re between six and ten years old, or if they show signs of cracking, bulging, or uneven wear. Regular tire inspections help keep you safe and ensure your tires are recycled before they become a hazard.

Once a tire can no longer be used, it’s ready for recycling.

Stage 2: Returning Your Tires

Recycling tires in BC is designed to be simple and convenient. Whether you’re replacing your tires or simply cleaning out your garage, you can drop off up to four clean, off-rim tires free of charge at a participating Return-to-Retailer location in your area. No purchase is required.

If a retailer isn’t convenient, TSBC also hosts community tire collection events throughout the province, providing additional opportunities to recycle responsibly.

Stage 3: From Scrap Tire to Raw Material

Once your tires are collected, haulers transport them to processing facilities in Delta, BC. There, the tires are carefully broken down and separated into rubber, steel, and fibre so each material can be recovered and put back to use.

Most tires are processed into crumb rubber and rubber mulch, which become the raw materials used to manufacture a wide range of products across BC. A small portion of tires that cannot be recycled into products is repurposed for energy recovery in approved industrial applications, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Stage 4: Made New in BC

The recycled rubber doesn’t travel far. Manufacturers across BC transform it into products that people use every day, including playground surfacing, gym and arena flooring, running tracks, landscaping mulch, truck bed mats, and livestock feeding bowls.

By processing and manufacturing these materials locally, BC keeps valuable resources in circulation while supporting local businesses and jobs.

Related: Understanding the full life cycle of a tire in BC

Stage 5: A System Built for the Future

Recycling a single tire may seem like a small action, but together BC drivers recycle more than 5 million tires every year. Recovering the rubber, steel, and fibre from each tire helps conserve resources and supports a province-wide network that has been growing and evolving for 35 years – and counting.

The result is a system that turns end-of-life tires into new opportunities—for manufacturers, communities, and the environment.

Celebrating 35 Years of Tire Recycling in BC

For 35 years, TSBC has worked with retailers, haulers, processors, manufacturers, and communities to build a recycling system that keeps valuable materials in use. Every tire recycled helps strengthen BC’s circular economy, supports local manufacturing, and gives old tires a new purpose instead of sending them to landfill. When you recycle your tires, you’re helping keep that cycle going.

Ready to recycle your tires? Click on the graphic below to find a tire recycling location near you.