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Getting rid of old tyres

Disposing of things · 5 minute read

Tyres are excluded from kerbside bins, hard rubbish collections, skip bins and general rubbish removal loads almost without exception. They're also among the most frequently dumped items in Australia, for exactly that reason.

Why the restrictions exist

Stockpiled tyres are a serious fire risk — tyre fires burn for weeks, are extremely difficult to extinguish, and produce highly toxic smoke and runoff. They also trap water and breed mosquitoes. Because of this, tyre storage and transport are regulated in most Australian jurisdictions, and facilities need specific approval to accept them.

Where they can go

• The tyre retailer. The simplest path by far — when you buy replacements, the fitter takes the old ones. There's a small disposal fee per tyre built into most quotes, and it's cheaper than any alternative.
• Tyre retailers generally. Many will accept tyres you bring in even if you didn't buy from them, for a per-tyre fee.
• Transfer stations. Most accept tyres at a dedicated point with a per-tyre charge. Rates are higher for larger tyres and highest for those still on rims — removing the rim first usually saves money, and the rim itself is scrap metal with value.
• Tyre recyclers. Specialist operators accept volume, which is relevant for workshops or properties with a stockpile.

What happens to them

Recovered tyres are shredded into crumb rubber and used in road surfacing, sports surfaces, playground softfall, brake pads and conveyor belting. Some go to tyre-derived fuel in cement kilns. The recovery rate for Australian tyres has improved substantially, though a meaningful share is still stockpiled or exported.

If tyres are already on your property

Rural blocks and older properties often come with a pile inherited from a previous owner. Because tyres are excluded from general removal loads, this needs to be arranged separately — usually a direct booking with a tyre recycler or a dedicated trip to a transfer station. It's worth budgeting for as its own job rather than expecting a general cleanout to absorb it.

Don't

Don't burn them — it's illegal everywhere in Australia and the smoke is genuinely hazardous. Don't dump them on rural land or in bushland; enforcement on tyre dumping is comparatively aggressive because the fire risk is so high. Don't use them as garden planters if you're growing food, given the leaching questions.