Used Passenger Tires

The Regulated Program

Nova Scotians can return up to four regulated used tires at a time for recycling to any tire retailer in the province, free of charge.

When you purchase on-road passenger tires, you pay a one-time environmental handling fee to support the cost of collecting and processing used tires. Divert NS works with retailers to help keep used tires out of landfills.

Are you a Tire Retailer or Salvage Yard?

For information on non-program tire disposal, check out your local sorting guide. For details about used bicycle tires, click here.

The Impact

More than one million used tires are diverted from Nova Scotia’s landfills each year. On-road motor vehicle tires with a rim size of 24.5” or less have been banned from landfills since 1996. Keeping tires out of landfills conserves space.

Here’s what happens to used tires that are returned to retailers.

Divert NS has contracts with two processors for the majority of used tires:

• Up to 70% of available collection volume goes to Halifax C&D to be recycled into Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) which is shred used for civil engineering projects and a portion of whole tractor-trailer tires received are used to manufacture blast mats.
• Up to 30% of available collection volume goes to Geocycle Canada Inc.- Lafarge Brookfield where whole tires are used to produce Tire Derived Fuel (TDF) as an alternative to coal. TDF is a well-established and accepted, research-based technology used around the world, including regions with some of the strictest emissions standards. This project was approved and continues to be monitored by NS Environment and Climate Change. 

The environmental handling fee paid when buying new passenger tires covers the costs to administer the program, including collection and processing. 

Divert NS continues to seek additional markets for our used tires. Where opportunities arise, we are able to direct up to 20% of total collection volume toward research and development projects. We also engage with smaller enterprises accessing a portion of this 20%, for example, a project splitting tires for farm silage cover, and another project using tires as wharf bumpers.

The Benefits of Recovering Tires

• Extends the life of our landfills. 
• Conserves energy and natural resources such as water and crude oil. 
• Creates jobs in the collection, transportation, and processing of used tires. 
• Protects the environment.

The environmental handling fee charged depends on the size and type of tire purchased. The fees are as follows:

Your Role 

You can return up to four eligible tires, during business hours, to any tire retailer in Nova Scotia. Unwanted or worn-out tires returned to the tire retailer must be whole, off rim and free of mud and debris.

Tire Retailers and Salvage Yards

All retailers (regardless of location) are required to register with Divert NS before selling any regulated passenger tires in Nova Scotia. To register, please call 902-895-7732 or email info@divertns.ca.

For tire pickups, please call:

Cape Breton, Maia Transport:  902-295-0369
Mainland Nova Scotia, Cote Tire Junkie:  902-890-1627

Current registered tire retailers:

• Tire Remitter List (as of November 30, 2024)

Guidelines for Retailers and Salvage Yards

• Divert NS does not automatically arrange pickups. Retailers and salvage yards are responsible for contacting their tire hauler for pickups.
• Storage of used program-eligible tires is the responsibility of tire retailers and salvage yards. Used tires must be stored according to the National Fire Code requirements.
• The maximum time used tires can be stored without pick-up is one (1) year.
• Retailers and salvage yards must be registered with Divert NS to receive a tire pick-up.
• Please call when there are no more than 500 tires ready for pick-up to avoid used tire stockpiles—making it easier for the hauler to collect all your tires at once.
• Tires must be whole, off the rims and clean of any debris or contaminants.
• The hauling company has the right to refuse to pick up tires if they deem that the tires are not easily accessible or are too damaged and/or contaminated. Do not push tires around on dirt or gravel pads with heavy equipment to avoid dirt and debris on tires.

For more information about the Used Tire Management Program, please call Divert NS toll-free at (877) 313-7732 or email info@divertns.ca.