From Old Tires to New Products: Understanding The Full Life Cycle of a Tire in BC
Every year, over 5 million old vehicle tires are collected and recycled in BC, becoming new and innovative products made and sold right here in the province. Most British Columbians know that tires can be recycled, but what actually happens after you drop them off? To answer that question, we’re breaking down the full life cycle of a tire in BC, from drop-off to its second life as a new product.
Stage 1: The Last Lap
How do you know when your tires have taken their last lap? Car tires generally need to be replaced when the tread depth falls below 1.6mm (the legal limit in BC), if they are over 6-10 years old, or if they show signs of damage like cracks, bulges, or uneven wear. Tires should be checked monthly to monitor for these issues. When a tire is no longer useful, it’s time to take it in for recycling.
Stage 2: The Drop-Off
When a tire’s driving days are done, it’s not the end of the road. In BC, you can recycle your tires free of charge at a return-to-retailer location in your area. Most drivers return their old tires when they purchase new ones, but you don’t have to make a purchase to recycle your tires. If you have up to 4 tires (clean and off the rims), you can get started right away by finding a tire recycling location near you here: Recycle Your Tires*. Alternately, you can take your tires to a community tire collection event in your neighbourhood. Locations and dates are updated regularly here.
*Note: TSBC recommends calling ahead to ensure the retailer still has space to accept your tires.
Stage 3: The Transformation
Once your tires are dropped off, the transformation begins. Haulers collect scrap tires from retailers and other sites, then transport them to the processors. In Delta, BC, two companies handle this work: Liberty Tire Recycling and Heidelberg Materials. Most of BC’s scrap tires end up at Liberty Tire Recycling, where they’re transformed into fine granules of clean, pure rubber, also known as crumb rubber and mulch.
Once the tires arrive at the processing facilities, the real work begins. They’re broken down and carefully sorted so every material can be reused. Metal, fibre, and rubber are separated, cleaned, and prepared for recycling. Finally, the rubber is put through a shredder, ready to start its next life in a variety of products.
Stage 4: Made New in BC
Once processed, the recycled rubber materials are furthered processed into products by Liberty Tire, or sent to manufacturers like North West Rubber, Dinoflex, and Plascon to be turned into new and useful products. Durable gym and arena flooring, and safe and accessible playground surfaces are made right here in BC. Plus, products that you can buy locally in stores, like rubber truck bed mats, feeding bowls for farm animals, and rubber mulch for gardens and landscaping.
Related: 4 Innovative Products Made in BC From Recycled Rubber
Stage 5: Back in Action
The recycled rubber from your old tires is used in parks, gyms, job sites, and neighbourhoods across the province, creating accessible surfacing and giving old tires a new life in a way that benefits everyone. Plus, through initiatives like our TSBC Community Grant Program, funding and materials are provided to help improve community spaces so everyone can gather and play. That’s the full life cycle of a tire, and it starts with you.
How is TSBC involved in the process?
At Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC), we make sure tires in BC are recycled responsibly. We help retailers meet their obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, a government strategy that places the responsibility for end-of-life product management on the producers and not the general taxpayer or local government. As a result, tires get a second life instead of ending up in landfills. Still have questions about tire recycling in BC? Be sure to check out this page.
