How to Dispose of Tires (5 Legal Options)

Old tires cannot go in the trash. All 50 states either ban tires from landfills outright or heavily restrict them, and for good reason — tires trap methane gas, create fire hazards, and provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes when improperly stored. An estimated 275 million scrap tires are generated in the United States each year, and the disposal infrastructure to handle them is well established once you know where to look.

This guide covers every legal method for getting rid of old tires, explains the regulations that apply, and compares costs so you can choose the right option.

Why You Can't Just Throw Tires Away

Tires are banned from municipal landfills in 48 states under state solid waste regulations. The two main reasons:

Fire risk: Tire piles are notoriously difficult to extinguish. The 1983 Winchester, Virginia tire fire burned for nine months and released 240 million gallons of contaminated runoff into the watershed. Fire codes in most jurisdictions restrict stockpiling more than a handful of tires on residential property.

Disease vector: Discarded tires collect rainwater and create ideal breeding habitat for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which carry West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika. The CDC and EPA have both identified scrap tire accumulations as a major vector-control concern.

Illegal dumping penalties: Illegally dumping tires carries fines ranging from $500 to $25,000 in most states, with some states allowing criminal prosecution for repeat offenders or large quantities.

5 Legal Ways to Dispose of Old Tires

1. Tire Retailer Take-Back (Best Option When Buying New)

When you purchase new tires, most retailers are required by state law to accept your old tires at no additional charge or for a minimal state-mandated recycling fee. This is the easiest and most common disposal path.

What it costs:

Retailer	Take-Back Policy	Fee
Discount Tire	Accepts old tires with new purchase	$0–$2 per tire (state fee)
Firestone / Bridgestone	Accepts old tires with new purchase	$0–$2 per tire (state fee)
Pep Boys	Accepts old tires with new purchase	$0–$3 per tire (state fee)
Walmart Auto Center	Accepts old tires with new purchase	$1.50–$3 per tire
Costco Tire Center	Accepts old tires with new purchase	$0 (included in installation)
Jiffy Lube / Quick Lube	Varies by location	$2–$5 per tire

State-mandated fees: Many states collect a per-tire recycling surcharge ($1–$3) at the point of new tire sale. This money funds state scrap tire recycling programs. You will see this listed as a "tire recycling fee" or "environmental fee" on your invoice.

What happens to the tires: Retailers collect scrap tires and sell them to licensed tire processors who shred, bale, or granulate the rubber for use as tire-derived fuel (TDF), rubber crumb for playground surfaces, asphalt modifiers, and molded rubber products.

2. Municipal Drop-Off and Recycling Events (Free to Low Cost)

Most counties and municipalities operate hazardous waste and bulky material collection programs that include tire drop-offs. These programs are often free for residents or charge a small per-tire fee.

How to find your local program:

Visit your county's waste management or public works website
Search "[your county] tire recycling drop-off"
Call your municipality's solid waste hotline
Check Earth911.com for nearby tire recycling centers

Typical program structures:

Permanent drop-off sites: Some counties operate year-round tire drop-off locations, often at transfer stations or solid waste facilities. Fees range from $0–$3 per tire.
Annual collection events: Many communities hold 1–4 tire amnesty events per year where residents can drop off a limited number of tires (typically 4–8 per household) at no charge.
Curbside collection: A small number of municipalities offer curbside tire pickup on bulky waste days, usually with advance scheduling required.

Limitations: Most programs cap the number of tires per household (typically 4–8) and require tires to be off-rims or may charge extra for tires on rims.

3. Independent Tire Recycling Centers (Best for Large Quantities)

Licensed tire recyclers accept scrap tires directly from the public, often at lower per-tire costs than other options. This is the best route when you have more than 4–8 tires to dispose of — for example, after a farm equipment cleanout, fleet vehicle rotation, or property cleanup.

Typical costs: $1–$4 per passenger tire, $4–$10 per truck or commercial tire. Tires on rims add $2–$5 per tire at most facilities.

How to find licensed recyclers:

Your state environmental agency maintains a list of licensed scrap tire processors and transporters. Search "[your state] licensed scrap tire processor."
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) directory lists recyclers by state.
Earth911.com allows zip code searches for nearby tire recyclers.

What they do with the tires: Processed tires become crumb rubber (used in playground surfaces, athletic tracks, and asphalt), tire-derived fuel for cement kilns and paper mills, or steel wire recovered from belted tires.

4. Donate or Sell Usable Tires

If your tires have usable tread remaining, selling or donating them is both legal and the most environmentally sound option. The highest and best use for any tire is continued use as a tire.

Selling used tires:

Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist: Used tires with 50%+ tread sell for $15–$40 each for passenger sizes, more for truck or SUV tires
eBay: Good for less common sizes or full matching sets. Factor in shipping for lightweight tires
Local used auto parts shops: Many buy used tires in bulk. Expect $5–$15 per tire
Tire shops: Some independent shops resell used tires. They typically pay $3–$10 and sell them for $25–$60

Donating usable tires:

Automotive vocational programs at community colleges and trade schools accept used tires for student practice
Tire banks operated by some nonprofits provide low-cost tires to low-income families
Habitat for Humanity ReStores occasionally accept tires depending on local program needs

Minimum tread requirements for resale: Most buyers require 3–4 mm of tread remaining (out of a new-tire depth of 8–9 mm). Tires below 2/32" tread depth are legally unsafe and should be recycled, not resold.

5. Dumpster Rental (For Larger Cleanouts With Mixed Debris)

If you are clearing an entire property, doing a garage cleanout, or disposing of tires along with other bulky waste from a renovation project, renting a dumpster can handle everything in one container.

Important restriction: The majority of dumpster rental companies do not accept tires as part of a standard rental due to landfill bans and the specialized processing tires require. You must confirm tire acceptance before booking.

How to handle tires with a dumpster rental:

Call ahead: When booking, explicitly ask "Do you accept tires?" and confirm the per-tire surcharge if applicable
Expect a surcharge: Companies that do accept tires typically charge $10–$20 per tire on top of the base rental rate
Ask about alternatives: Some companies will arrange separate tire removal alongside your dumpster rental

When dumpster rental makes sense for tires: If you have 2–4 tires and a large volume of other debris — furniture, appliances, junk from a whole-house cleanout — the convenience of one container may outweigh the per-tire surcharge. For tires only, a direct trip to a recycling center is more cost-effective.

Find dumpster providers in your area through our search tool and ask specifically about tire acceptance when you call.

Tire Disposal Costs at a Glance

Method	Cost Per Tire	Best For
Retailer take-back (with new purchase)	$0–$3	Standard tire replacement
Municipal drop-off event	$0–$3	Small quantities, resident use
Independent recycler	$1–$4 (passenger) / $4–$10 (truck)	Large quantities
Sell usable tires	You get paid ($5–$40)	Tires with remaining tread
Dumpster rental (with surcharge)	$10–$20 per tire + rental	Mixed-debris cleanouts

Tire Disposal by Type

Passenger Car and Light Truck Tires

The most common disposal scenario. All five options above apply. Retailer take-back or municipal drop-off is usually the simplest path.

SUV and Pickup Truck Tires (LT Tires)

Same disposal channels as passenger tires. Larger tires command higher fees at recycling centers ($3–$8 each) but also higher resale value if tread remains.

Semi-Truck and Commercial Tires

Larger trucking operations typically contract directly with a licensed scrap tire hauler. Individual operators should contact a licensed tire recycler; most accept commercial tires at $5–$15 each. Retreading is also viable for commercial tires in good condition — retreaded commercial tires cost 30–40% of new and meet the same DOT safety standards.

Farm and Off-Road Tires

Large agricultural tires (tractor, combine, skid steer) present a significant disposal challenge due to size. Options include:

Specialty agricultural tire dealers: Many accept trade-ins or old tires when selling new
Scrap metal yards: Some will accept large tires, though they process for metal content rather than rubber
Tire-derived fuel facilities: Large industrial tires are valued feedstock for cement kilns. Some facilities offer pickup for large quantities
Repurposing: Large tractor tires are frequently repurposed as playground equipment, garden planters, or retaining walls — legal and free to dispose of this way

Bicycle Tires

Bicycle tires are not regulated as scrap tires in most states and can be placed in regular trash. However, the rubber can be recycled through:

Bike shop take-back programs
TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box for tires and tubes
Some municipal recycling programs that accept rubber

Preparing Tires for Disposal

Remove from rims if possible: Most drop-off programs and recyclers charge less (or nothing) for tires off rims. A tire shop will dismount tires for $2–$5 each, which can save money at facilities that surcharge for rims.

No need to clean: Dirty tires are accepted at all recycling facilities. Don't spend time cleaning them.

Do not cut or modify tires: Cutting tires for "easier transport" is unnecessary and may be flagged as illegal processing in some jurisdictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put old tires in a dumpster?

Most dumpster rental companies do not accept tires due to landfill bans. A minority do accept them with a per-tire surcharge of $10–$20. Always confirm before putting tires in a rented container — adding tires without authorization will result in additional charges or rejection of the load. See our first-time dumpster rental guide for what is and isn't accepted.

How many tires can I drop off at a municipal event?

Most programs limit residents to 4–8 tires per household per event. Programs funded by state scrap tire fees are typically free for this quantity. Commercial quantities (9+ tires) usually require a licensed hauler or direct drop at a recycler.

Are tires on rims harder to dispose of?

Yes. Most recycling programs and drop-off sites charge $2–$5 extra per tire on a rim. Having a tire shop dismount them beforehand (typically $2–$5 per tire) can save money or make them acceptable at facilities that otherwise decline rims.

Can I legally bury old tires on my property?

No. Burying tires is prohibited by solid waste regulations in virtually every state. Buried tires can rise over time ("tire migration"), disrupt soil drainage, and create long-term contamination liability for the property owner.

What happens if I abandon tires illegally?

Penalties vary by state and quantity. For individuals, fines typically range from $500 to $5,000 per incident. For commercial quantities (25+ tires), criminal charges are possible in many states. Some states hold property owners liable for cleanup costs if tires are dumped on their land.

Can tires be recycled into something useful?

Yes. Recycled tire rubber has several well-established end markets:

Crumb rubber: Ground into fine particles for use in playground safety surfaces, synthetic athletic turf infill, and rubberized asphalt (used in over 20 states)
Tire-derived fuel (TDF): Whole or shredded tires burned as fuel in cement kilns and pulp mills, with higher BTU content than coal
Molded rubber products: Speed bumps, dock bumpers, landscape mulch, and flooring products
Steel wire recovery: Belted tires contain steel wire that is recovered and recycled as scrap metal

Next Steps

Check if you're buying new tires — retailer take-back is the simplest and often free option
Find your local municipal drop-off — most counties have at least an annual tire amnesty event
For large quantities, contact a licensed scrap tire recycler in your state
If your tires have remaining tread, consider selling them before recycling — you may recoup $20–$100
For mixed cleanouts, use our search tool to find local dumpster companies and confirm tire acceptance when you book