Ontario raises tire-recycling targets after January rollback created backlog
Manufacturers must now recycle 80% of used tires by weight, up from 65%. Collection sites increasing from 4,300 to 6,500 by 2027.
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Ontario is raising tire-recycling requirements and expanding collection infrastructure to clear a backlog that built up after the province rolled back targets last year.
Tire manufacturers must now recycle 80 per cent of used tires by weight—a jump from the 65 per cent mandate introduced in January 2025. The government will also require collection sites to nearly double, from roughly 4,300 currently to around 6,500 by 2027.
In January, the Ford government had reduced recycling targets and the number of collection sites, a move that created significant strain. Shanu Nanda, manager at Flame Auto Repair in Scarborough, said his shop previously had nowhere to put used tires. "We're so happy that it's been picked up regularly now," he said Toronto—a shift that came only after months of gridlock.
Adam Moffatt, chief executive director of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, said the situation worsened throughout 2026. "As this year progressed, we saw less and less collection and recycling activity," he said. "The backlog has progressed even greater than it was this time last year." Moffatt cautioned that even with the new targets, clearing the backlog will take time. "We are entering the busiest time of year. The question is: is that enough to get the large backlog of tires that's present in Ontario cleaned up on top of maintaining the current generation of tires that we see on a normal daily basis?" Adjustments are likely not to show results until March 2027.
Since 2019, tire manufacturers have been responsible for collecting and managing end-of-life tires under Ontario's producer-responsibility rules. Many outsource that work to producer responsibility organizations (PROs), which contract with haulers, collectors and recyclers. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks spokesperson Gary Wheeler said the government aims to ensure "all end-of-life tires should be collected and managed as they become available, regardless of targets."
What enforcement mechanisms will Ontario use if manufacturers or PROs fail to meet the 80% target?
Will the expanded collection network be distributed fairly across urban and rural areas?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What is Ontario's new tire-recycling target?
Tire manufacturers must now recycle 80 per cent of used tires by weight, up from the 65 per cent mandate introduced in January 2025.
When might the backlog of used tires be cleared?
Adjustments to the new targets are likely not to show results until March 2027, according to Adam Moffatt of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association.
