Through a partnership between Tire Stewardship BC and Ocean Legacy Foundation, abandoned tires are recovered from BC’s waters, safely processed, and reintegrated into the circular economy.

Since the start of 2026, more than 330 ocean-recovered tires have been removed from BC’s coastal waters, processed (including foam removal), and recycled into new materials made and sold in the province. This work is part of an ongoing partnership between Tire Stewardship BC and Ocean Legacy Foundation, focused on recovering abandoned and ocean-bound tires and ensuring they are responsibly reintegrated into the circular economy.

The partnership helps create a practical end-of-life pathway for tires recovered from sensitive coastal environments. Funding from Tire Stewardship BC supports the recovery of abandoned, lost, and derelict tires collected through shoreline cleanups, community stewardship initiatives, and industry-led recovery efforts across the province.

2026 Recovery Activity Across BC’s Coast

The first part of 2026 has seen a steady flow of recovered tires and marine materials through Ocean Legacy’s facilities. These materials are arriving from a mix of ocean recovery operations, marina and floating community drop-offs, shoreline cleanups, and industry partners seeking responsible disposal solutions.

Foam-filled flotation tires remain a consistent part of this recovery, particularly those associated with docks, marinas, and coastal infrastructure. As awareness grows across coastal communities, more operators are identifying Ocean Legacy as a practical solution for managing these difficult-to-handle materials.

Safer and More Efficient Processing Systems

As material volumes continue to increase, processing systems have evolved to keep up with demand. One of the most important improvements has been the introduction of a guillotine processing system, which has significantly improved both safety and efficiency in tire dismantling and material separation (previously done by hand).

This system allows recovered foam-filled tires to be processed more consistently and at greater scale, while reducing handling risks for operators working with complex marine debris materials.

Related: Details on the 5-year partnership between Tire Stewardship BC and Ocean Legacy Foundation

Marine Foam Recovery Pilot Project in BC

Dock dismantling is becoming a real issue on the Sunshine Coast as older docks and boathouses reach end of life, especially those built with exposed styrofoam and flotation materials. To help manage this, the Sunshine Coast Regional District is directing residents and contractors to approved drop-off locations, including Ocean Legacy’s facilities, where dock foam and foam-filled materials can be safely processed instead of ending up in the ocean.

This summer also kicks off the shíshálh BC Dock and Foam Management Plan pilot project, delivered with shíshálh Nation and the Province of BC. Over the next three years, the program will run free disposal events across the Sunshine Coast and Pender Harbour region to help reduce pollution from aging marine infrastructure. While the first year focuses on styrofoam billets and dock foam, there’s already strong uptake from dock owners and contractors starting deconstruction work.

As the program rolls out, it will help meet growing demand for proper disposal options and lay the groundwork for expanding what can be accepted in the future, including more structured pathways for foam-filled tires and other legacy marine materials tied to dock replacement projects.

To learn more about Ocean Legacy Foundation and the important work they do, please visit oceanlegacy.ca.