How to Dispose of Old Tyres
Got an old set of car tyres taking up space in the garage? Disposing of vehicle tyres in the UK is notoriously difficult. Because they are incredibly durable and take hundreds of years to decompose, they were completely banned from UK landfills back in 2006. While some local council tips do accept them, they are heavily restricted and usually incur a disposal fee.
Find a Local Tip for Tyres
Enter your postcode below to see which nearby recycling centres accept this item.
Won't fit in your car?
Don't risk damaging your vehicle. Hire a local 'Man and Van' and get tyres taken away today.
Hire Man & Van ↗⚠️ Important Safety Warning
Never, ever burn old tyres on a bonfire. Burning rubber releases toxic black smoke, poisonous chemicals, and heavy metals into the air and soil. It is a serious criminal offence under the Clean Air Act and carries unlimited fines.
What happens to your tyres at the tip?
When you dispose of tyres correctly, they are collected and sent to specialist rubber recycling facilities. First, the thick steel wire casing inside the tyre is extracted using powerful machines and sent to scrap metal recyclers.
The remaining rubber is then shredded into fine granules known as 'rubber crumb'. This crumb is highly versatile and is reused to make safety surfaces for children's playgrounds, artificial 3G sports pitches, or carpet underlay. In some cases, heavily worn tyres are sent to cement kilns to be burned safely at extremely high temperatures as a fuel source (Tyre-Derived Fuel).
Rules for taking tyres to the recycling centre
Not all household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) accept car or motorbike tyres. Because tyres are generally classed as 'automotive' or 'commercial' waste rather than standard household rubbish, many councils outright refuse them or place a strict limit on them (for example, a maximum of four tyres per household per year).
Where tips do accept them, you will almost certainly have to pay a disposal fee—usually ranging from £3 to £6 per tyre. You must check your local council's website before loading filthy tyres into your car, or you might end up driving them straight back home.
💡 Tips & Alternatives
- Leave them at the garage. The easiest way to dispose of old tyres is to leave them with the garage or fast-fit centre when you buy new ones. They usually charge a small environmental disposal fee (around £2 to £3 per tyre), which is often cheaper and much easier than taking them to the tip.
- Call a local tyre fitter. Even if you didn't buy tyres from them, many local independent garages will take your old tyres off your hands for a small cash fee so they can add them to their commercial recycling collection.
- Upcycle them in the garden. Old tyres make fantastic, durable garden planters for growing potatoes or displaying flowers. You can even paint them or turn them into a traditional tree swing for the kids.
❓Common Questions
Why do councils charge to dispose of tyres?
Since tyres were banned from landfill in 2006, they must be processed at specialist recycling plants. Because this processing is expensive and tyres are considered vehicle waste rather than everyday household waste, councils pass the disposal cost directly onto the resident.
Can I put a tyre in my normal wheelie bin?
No. The bin men will refuse to empty your bin if they see a tyre inside. It will contaminate the general waste truck and cannot be processed at a standard waste sorting facility.
Will the council collect old tyres?
Most local councils explicitly exclude vehicle parts, including car and motorbike tyres, from their bulky waste collection services. You will usually need to arrange a private licensed waste carrier or take them to an accepting HWRC.
Do tips accept bicycle tyres?
Yes, unlike car tyres, bicycle tyres are generally accepted for free at most council tips. They can normally go into the general waste skip because they do not contain the thick steel bands found in automotive tyres and are much easier to process.