Used Tire Disposal – Where to Get Rid of Old Tires Near Me
Have you ever wondered where to get rid of old tires near me? There are actually a few different options for disposing of old tires that are eco-friendly and a few that aren’t. You may even be able to sell them and get a few bucks. There is actually a difference between disposal and recycling and it is an important distinction to make for the environment. In this article I will discuss how to get rid of old tires, environmental impacts of improper disposal, and share how the used tire disposal near me works.
Used Tire Disposal Near Me – Used Tire Drop Off Locations
If you are looking for “used tire disposal near me” or “where to take old tires near me” that map below shows your best local options. You can use the map controls to adjust your results…
Alternatively you can search for “tire recycling near me” which will expand the list and present more environmental friendly solutions for old tire disposal.
Who Does Used Tire Disposal Near Me?
The short answer is: recycling centers, tire shops, and used tire disposal companies. Likely your local landfill or dump likely doesn’t dispose of used tires because of the danger to the local eco-system. The long answer is that you shouldn’t be putting tires in a dump or a landfill anyway and you may have much better green options or possibly options to sell them available to you.
Tire disposal simply implies getting rid of your tires. In most states you can’t put tires in dumps or landfills and it’s why your local waste management won;t pick them up curbside. For most solutions there will be a disposal fee involved which varies by state. I would encourage to consider environmentally friendly alternatives like a recycling center or a green disposal company. There still may be a disposal fee, but you are acting in a more environmentally friendly way.
There are other organizations that do green disposal and offer a designated drop off area. Some still charge a fee which is the equivalent of going to non-environmentally conscious options like the landfill.
If you are looking for how to get rid of old tires near me and have a mass quantity some US states require a special license to haul a large number of tires. Dropping off a few tires, like the set of four you just replaced is fine though.
Free Environment Friendly Tire Disposal Near Me
Since you can’t simply leave old tires out with your trash, because they won’t take them, there are organizations who will pick them up. There are companies like Green Tire Disposal that operate across the US who manages the transportation of nearly 10 percent of total scrap tires. Even better they do it for free and they turn tires into derived fuel, crumb rubber, and asphalt filler. So instead of finding where to get rid of old tires near me, they will come to you and pick them up.
Used Tire Disposal vs Used Tire Recycling?
Disposal and recycling imply two different meanings. Disposal is the action or process of throwing away or getting rid of something. Recycling is to convert (waste) into reusable material.
For many years old tires have been a huge problem because they contain chemicals that don’t biodegrade easily, they rip landfill liners, and take up a lot of space in dumps and landfills. The nature of a tire itself is that it is built to be durable and not succumb weathering. That is why it takes a tire 50 to 80 years to biodegrade according to this article here. So when you dispose of tires, you are not recycling them which is harmful to the earth.
Recycling on the other hand turns the tires into reusable goods. Some tires that are still safe can be sold as used or retreaded. Tires that are no longer driveable can be recycled into derived fuel, crumb rubber, asphalt filler, gym mats, barn mats, ballistic targets and more. You can read more about what becomes of recycled tires here.
The Environmental Impact of Recycling Tires
According to the US Tire Manufacturers Association 249.4 million scrap tires were generated in the U.S. in 2017. If all of these used tires entered into the dumps or landfills the consequences on the environment would be disastrous. The good news is that almost 86% of all tires are actually recycled and 6% are sent to landfills. The other 8% are exported.
When a tire is left in a dump or landfill, it begins a dangerous process called “leaching” into the ground. This the process of the heavy metals and carcinogenic chemicals breaking down and poisoning the soil which causes genetic mutations in the local eco system. The other problem with tires is they take up huge amounts of space in landfills. Considering that 80% of a tire is unused space because the inside inside is a hole with a hollow shell, it’s a waste of landfill space. Rodents also make homes inside and they are a breeding ground for disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes.
The ideal use for old tires though is recycling them into fuel called Tire Derived Fuel (TDF). Since a tire is made of very flammable materials it makes fuel the best candidate for recycling them. Almost 62% of all scrap tires are turned into derived fuel now. These fuels are used in industrial boilers, cement kilns, and paper mills.
Why Are There Disposal Fees for Old Tires?
48 States of regulations specifically called out related to the disposal of old tires. The most common amongst them is a disposal fee. There are state laws that specify how much can be charged for used tires to be recycled. It is enforced because almost all of the options for recycling tires are state funded programs.
In my state, Virginia, The tire recycling fee is imposed at a rate of $1.00. The way it works is that when a company sells you a new tire they have to pay a $1 recycling fee. When you bring a tire to them for disposal they charge you the fee. Now to be honest the used tire disposal near me charges about $5 per tire.
Alternative Options to Used Tire Disposal Near Me
If you were looking for used tire disposal near me, here are some other better options to consider for where to get rid of old tires.
Retreading Shops May Take Your Tires
Retreading is the process of taking old worn our tires and putting a new tread on. This is typically only done for commercial vehicle tires and not passenger car tires. A retreader may be interested if you have used commercial vehicle tires to dispose of. They may even pay you for them if the casings are still in good shape. To find a retread shop near you, click here.
SellMyTires.com
If your tires still have tread wear on them and are safe you can sell them on the site SellMyTires.com. This site allows people to post their tires and others in your local area to see your listings. In my experience you can sell the right pair of tires for about $75 on average. Selling your tires as a means of disposing of them is a win win. Alternatively you can try sites like Craigslist and EBay to sell your tires second hand.
Used Tire Shops That Purchase Used Tires
There are many used tire shops both locally and online that will purchase your used tires or your rims. You can find local buyers here. They will need to inspect your tires for safety because they in turn will be reselling the tire to the public. On average you can get up to $25 per tire if there is tread left on it and the quality is still good.
Used Tire Disposal Near Me – Conclusion
Keeping tires out of landfills and dumps is of the utmost importance. Recycling options are great, but you may run into a small disposal fee per tire. If your tire still have some life left in them, selling them second hand is the best way to dispose of the. That serves several purposes. It puts money in your pocket, helps someone else save money, saves energy because less tires are produced, and keeps tires out of landfills. Even if you don’t care about recycling or what happens to the planet, you may face legal penalties for improper disposal of old tires. The good news though is recycling them is now the easiest option for disposal and the best alternative for where to get rid of old tires. That’s what I have learned from the places that do used tire disposal near me.