How to Get Rid of Old Tires in Oregon

Whether you just swapped out a set of worn tires in your garage, inherited a property with a tire pile, or found old tires left behind by a previous tenant, getting rid of tires in Oregon is more regulated than most people realize. Tires cannot go in regular trash, they take up enormous space in landfills, and they create environmental and fire hazards when stockpiled or illegally dumped.

The good news is that Oregon has a well-established tire management system. Here is how to use it.

Option 1: Tire Retailers

The simplest way to get rid of a few old tires is to bring them to a tire shop. Most tire retailers in Oregon accept used tires for a small disposal fee, even if you did not buy them there.

Major Oregon Tire Retailers

• Les Schwab Tire Centers — Oregon-founded chain with dozens of locations along the I-5 corridor. Typically charges $2 to $4 per passenger tire for disposal. Les Schwab locations can be found in Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Albany, Eugene, and nearly every Oregon city.
• Discount Tire — Locations in Portland metro and Salem. Accepts old tires for a disposal fee.
• Firestone Complete Auto Care — Multiple Oregon locations. Accepts tires for recycling.
• Costco Tire Centers — Accepts used tires when you purchase new ones. May accept drop-offs for a fee.

Tip: If you are buying new tires, the disposal fee for your old tires is almost always included in the installation price. Ask your tire shop to confirm. You should not need to make a separate trip.

Option 2: Transfer Stations

Oregon transfer stations accept tires, though typically at a higher per-tire fee than retailers:

• Metro transfer stations (Portland area) — Accept passenger tires for approximately $3 to $5 each and truck or oversized tires for $7 to $15 each. Fees vary by tire size.
• Marion County (Salem area) — Transfer stations accept tires with fees posted at the facility.
• Lane County (Eugene area) — Glenwood transfer station and other Lane County facilities accept tires.
• Coffin Butte Landfill (Corvallis area) — Accepts tires for disposal.

Transfer stations are a good option if you have tires mixed with other junk and want to make one trip for everything. Most have a separate tire collection area.

Option 3: Professional Junk Removal

If you have a large pile of tires, tires mixed with other junk, or simply do not want to deal with loading and transporting them, a professional junk removal service handles everything.

This makes particular sense when:

• You are cleaning out a property with accumulated tires
• You have oversized tires (truck, tractor, or equipment tires) that are too heavy to handle alone
• Tires are part of a larger cleanout project
• You do not have a vehicle to transport tires

Expect to pay based on the overall volume of junk. A few tires added to a larger load will not significantly increase the price. A standalone tire-only pickup for four to eight tires might run $75 to $150 depending on size and location.

Option 4: DEQ-Permitted Tire Collection Sites

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality permits tire collection and processing facilities across the state. These are separate from transfer stations and are specifically set up for tire management. DEQ maintains a list of permitted tire carriers and storage sites on their website.

These facilities accept tires in larger quantities, making them a good option if you have a significant stockpile. Some may accept tires at lower per-unit costs than transfer stations, especially for large quantities.

Where Do Old Tires Go? Recycling and Reuse

Old tires collected in Oregon go to several productive uses rather than sitting in a landfill:

• Tire-derived fuel (TDF) — Tires have a high energy content and are used as fuel in cement kilns and industrial boilers. Oregon has several facilities that use TDF.
• Crumb rubber — Tires are shredded and ground into crumb rubber used in playground surfaces, athletic tracks, rubber mulch for landscaping, and road construction materials.
• Civil engineering — Shredded tires are used as lightweight fill material in road construction, retaining walls, and drainage projects.
• Retreading — Commercial truck tires with intact casings can be retreaded and returned to service, which is common in the trucking industry.

Oregon's tire recycling rate has improved significantly since the state established its tire management program. The vast majority of tires collected through legal channels are recycled or repurposed rather than landfilled.

Oregon Tire Disposal Laws

Oregon has specific laws governing tire disposal:

• Tire disposal fee: Oregon charges a $1 fee on every new tire sold in the state. This fee funds DEQ's tire management program, including cleanup of illegal tire dumps and support for tire recycling infrastructure.
• Illegal dumping: Dumping tires on public or private property is illegal under Oregon law. Penalties include fines and responsibility for cleanup costs. Tire dumps are a particular concern because they create fire hazards and breed mosquitoes.
• DEQ tire program: The Oregon DEQ Waste Tire Program oversees the collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of waste tires statewide. All tire carriers, collection sites, and processing facilities must be permitted by DEQ.
• Quantity limits: Accumulating more than 1,500 waste tires on a property without a DEQ permit is illegal. This is relevant for property owners who may have inherited tire stockpiles.

Cost Summary: Tire Disposal in Oregon

What NOT to Do with Old Tires

• Do not burn them. Burning tires releases toxic black smoke containing benzene, lead, and other hazardous chemicals. It violates Oregon DEQ air quality regulations and can result in significant fines.
• Do not dump them in rural areas. Illegal tire dumps are a serious environmental problem in Oregon. They create fire hazards, collect standing water that breeds mosquitoes, and contaminate soil.
• Do not put them in regular trash. Most Oregon waste haulers will not accept tires in curbside trash pickup.
• Do not stockpile them on your property. Accumulating large numbers of tires without a DEQ permit is illegal and creates liability.