Wellington County, Ont.- Tire quantities at County Waste Facilities are at capacity. Beginning, July 1, 2026, tire collection at County Waste Facilities will be paused temporarily.
Each year, hundreds of tonnes of tires are collected at County Waste Facilities and are diverted from landfill and recycled. Ontario’s tire recycling system operates within the framework governed by the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Ast, 2016 and Tires Regulation (O. Reg. 225/18). Under these regulations, companies that supply tires into the Ontario market are legally and financially responsible for managing their disposal after use by consumers in a producer responsibility environment.
On January 1, 2025, the Government of Ontario changed the tire recycling targets from 85% of the tires marketed into Ontario to 65%.
“With this reduced target, producers now only appear to be collecting tires from municipalities, tire shops, and mechanics only until the 65% target is met,” explains Das Soligo, Manager of Solid Waste Services. “Unfortunately, this change has led to a sudden shift in the tire disposal process, and collection sites are overflowing with tires and are unable to find a company willing to remove them. This is the current situation at County Waste Facilities.”
To address these challenges, the Government of Ontario has proposed a regulation requiring Producer Responsibility Organizations to remove tires within a month during peak season (Spring/Fall) and two months during off-peak season.
“Until this regulation is approved, and the current tire backlog of tires at County Waste Facilities is removed, we have no other option but to temporarily pause tire disposal,” said Soligo. “Many municipalities do not accept tires at all, and a number are also pausing drop-off services during this time. The County has always accepted residential - generated tires at its waste facilities and we look forward providing this diversion service again as soon as it is possible to do so.”
Tires can be dropped-off at most tire retailers, mechanics and auto-wreckers. It is advised to call these locations to ensure acceptance before arrival.
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Media Contact:
Das Soligo, Manager of Solid Waste Services
519.837.2601 x 2400
dass@wellington.ca