The Ontario government is reversing a previous tire recycling goal in an effort to tackle the growing issue of used tires piling up across the province over the last year.
On Tuesday, the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) – the regulator appointed by the provincial government to manage this sector – announced that tire manufacturers will now have to recycle 80 per cent of used tires based on their weight.
The RPRA also mentioned that the number of required tire collection locations in Ontario would increase from about 4,300 to nearly 6,500 by 2027.
In a statement provided to CBC Toronto, Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, stated that all end-of-life tires should be collected and managed as they become available, no matter what the targets are.
The ministry concluded that raising both the target and site requirements would be the most effective way to resolve the backlog and enhance tire collection reliability throughout Ontario, he added.
According to Tuesday’s news release, these amendments were finalized after a public consultation period earlier this year.
WATCH | CBC’s Ali Chiasson explains why tires have been piling up in Ontario:
Used tires are piling up around the city, and mechanics are paying the price
Across Toronto, mechanics and tire shops are raising concerns about an increasing backlog of used tires accumulating outside their businesses. CBC’s Ali Chiasson provides insight into what they believe is causing this issue and how it’s affecting them financially.
Shanu Nanda, a manager at Flame Auto Repair in Scarborough, shared that he was previously informed there was no space at recycling centers for his shop’s pile of used tires.
“We [didn’t] know where to put them,” he told CBC Toronto Wednesday.
Now it seems like things have returned to normal according to Nanda.
“We’re so happy that it’s been picked up regularly now.”
How did we get here?
Since 2019, tire producers have had responsibility for collecting and managing end-of-life tires they sell in Ontario under provincial regulations.
Tire manufacturers can delegate their recycling responsibilities to producer responsibility organizations (PROs), which handle contracts with tire haulers, collectors, and recyclers.
Shanu Nanda, who is a manager at Scarborough mechanic shop Flame Auto Repair, said he was previously told there was no room in recycling centres to pick up his pile of used tires. (Michael Aitkens/CBC)
This past January 2025 saw a reduction in collection targets for used tires by the Ontario government. Tire producers were only required to recycle 65 per cent of collected used tires by weight instead of the former requirement of 85 per cent. The government also cut back on how many collection sites were needed across the province.
The decision to raise recycling goals comes after heaps of discarded tires built up since last year’s adjustments left auto shops facing tough challenges.
“As this year progressed, we saw less and less collection and recycling activity,” Adam Moffatt, Executive Director of Ontario Tire Dealers Association told during an interview.
“The backlog has progressed even greater than it was this time last year.”
This change is good news but may not solve everything: advocate
Moffatt acknowledges that increasing targets is definitely a positive move from the province but believes it might not be sufficient enough.
” We are entering busiest time of year,” he noted. “The question is: Is that enough to clear out large backlog that’s present in Ontario while keeping up with new generation of daily incoming tires?”
Moffatt added that improvements won’t happen overnight; changes will likely take until March next year before any visible progress occurs.
“The changes are positive,” he remarked. “We’re still concerned.”
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