Tires from bikes, cars, and other vehicles are bulky and contain a mix of materials that need to be separated during the recycling process, making them ineligible for curbside collection. They also pose challenges when disposed of in landfills - they can create air pockets that can cause landfill liners to tear. That's why whole tires have been banned from landfills since 2004.

While predominantly made of rubber, tires also contain steel rims, nails, and some fiber and nylon. Recycling programs vary across Michigan with community-based drop-offs and scrap tire events that may have different requirements, such as rim removal, quantity limits, and disposal fees. Tire retailers may accept used tires with the purchase of new tires and handle recycling services for their customers.

Education Pitfalls & Best Practices: 

• When messaging about tires, include information about Michigan's law banning landfilling of whole tires and burning of tires, making other disposal methods necessary.
• Keep residents informed of any recycling fees before participating in drop-off programs. Fees can be a barrier to participation and create adverse experiences for the participant when they don't know about them ahead of time. Explain that fees support safe, regulated management of end-of-life tires.

Michigan Perspective: 

Due to their size, longevity, and historic accumulation, tires have posed challenges for Michigan's disposal systems. Unmanaged tires from Michigan's history of automobile manufacturing have contributed to large stockpiles in communities in and around manufacturing hubs. When tires are put in curbside recycling carts or bins, they contaminate the recycling stream and are costly to remove and dispose of at MRFs.

To address these issues, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) established strict regulations for tire storage, transport, and disposal. EGLE's Scrap Tire Program has played a major role in removing large legacy tire piles, supporting cleanup efforts, and expanding tire grants and recycling options statewide. Each year, EGLE supports collection events, removes hundreds of thousands of tires from Michigan communities, reduces environmental risks, and improves community health.

• Tires should never be placed in curbside recycling or household trash.
• Tires cannot be recycled curbside because they require special processing to recover rubber, steel, fiber, and nylon for use in products such as road materials and playground surfacing.
• When tires are stockpiled, they become an eyesore, attract pests, and pose a fire hazard. Instead of letting tires pile up, recycle them at a scrap tire event or drop-off site.
• Seasonal tire recycling drives are often the best way to dispose of used tires. Learn about tire recycling drives happening in your local area to sustainably dispose of your used tires. Check locally for a designated tire drop-off site or program.
• When left outdoors, tires collect rainwater and become ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos and other pests, heightening public health concerns during Michigan's warm seasons.
• Recycled tires become playground surfacing, athletic fields, rubberized asphalt, landscaping mulch, and other construction additives.
• Tires do not break down naturally for hundreds of thousands of years, so their materials are valuable in the manufacturing of new durable goods.

How to Recycle:

• Drop-Off
• Retail/Other

Importance of Recycling: 

Improperly managed tires pose numerous environmental, health, and safety risks. Tires can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down due to the large quantities of synthetic rubber used in manufacturing. When left outdoors, they collect rainwater and become ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests, which can heighten public health concerns during Michigan's warm seasons.

Tires are also a fire hazard. Tire fires burn at extremely high temperatures, release thick smoke, and emit toxic pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and heavy metals. These fires require special efforts to extinguish and may result in long-term soil and groundwater contamination. In landfills, tires can trap methane gas, causing them to rise or "float," which damages landfill liners and threatens the integrity of the landfill system. Damaged liners can lead to costly remediation and potential environmental impacts.

Recycling tires reduces illegal dumping, reduces fire and pest risks, and provides an opportunity to reclaim valuable materials. End-use manufacturers transform recycled tires into playground surfacing, athletic fields, rubberized asphalt, landscaping mulch, and tire-derived aggregate.