Learn how to do anything: How to Recycle Tires

Tire waste is a big problem in the world. If you want to do your part to help the environment, you might want to consider recycling or upcycling your used tires. You can take your old tires to your local recycling center, or even pay a tire retailer to recycle them for you. If you’re interested in upcycling your old tires, you could make a tire swing, a tire planter, a tire sandbox, or even a tire table.

EditSteps

EditRecycling Used Tires

Drop them off at a local recycling facility. Most recycling centers accept used tires. Simply load up your used tires and haul them to the closest recycling center in your area. You may also want to call first to ensure that they will take the tires before you make the trip.
- If you don’t know where the closest recycling facility is, you can try searching online. There are many environmentally-friendly online sites that have gathered the information to make it easier for you to access recycling options near you.^[1]
Take your used tires to a specialty tire recycling processing center. Some companies specialize in cleaning up the waste caused by excess tires by recycling old tires and using the materials to create new, eco-friendly products. You can dump your tires at one of their processing facilities and feel confident that they will be reused in an innovative, eco-friendly way.^[2]
- Search for such companies online and see if they have facilities near you.
Look for a waste tire event in your area. Some communities host tire recycling events that rotate around to new locations. These initiatives are intended to help minimize the negative impact that waste tires can have on the environment and the community by providing easily accessible recycling opportunities for residents.^[3]
- If you’re not sure whether your area has waste tire events, you can try inquiring at your local landfill, recycling facility, or Department of Public Works.
Pay a tire retailer to take them for you. Most tire retailers will collect used tires from customers for a small fee – usually between $5 and $20 USD, depending on the size and quantity of the tires. The retailer will take the tires off your hands and make sure they get to a proper recycling facility.^[4]
- Remember that not all auto shops and tire retailers will accept used tires, so you should probably call first before you load up your used tires and drag them down to the shop.

EditRepurposing Old Tires

Make a tire swing. One of the most common ways to repurpose old tires is by turning them into tire swings. Simply screw 3 metal eyebolts into the top of a used tire (and secure them with washers and bolts on the underside), spaced evenly apart, and loop a piece of sturdy rope or metal chains through the eyebolt holes. Find a sturdy tree branch in your yard to hang the swing from.^[5]
- You can screw 4 metal brackets into the top of the tire if you want to make it even more secure.
Create a planter for your yard. Place the used tire on the ground in your yard. Choose your spot based on what types of plants you’ll be planting. For plants that require a lot of sun, be sure to choose a sunny spot for the tire. Fill the inside of the used tire with dirt and potting soil, then plant some flowers inside. Be sure to water the plants regularly.^[6]
- You might also want to consider painting the outside of the tire so that it looks nicer in your yard or garden. A green color would work well for this to blend in with the plant theme.
- You can even get extra fancy by wrapping the outside of the tire in old yarn or rope.^[7]
Make a sandbox for your kid. This option works the best with an old tractor tire, or another larger-sized tire. Paint the outside of the tire a fun color that the children will enjoy. Let the paint dry, then position it outside in your yard. Purchase several bags of sand from your local home improvement store and fill the inside of the tire with the sand.^[8]
- Make sure you put down some plastic first, otherwise you’ll get sand all in your yard if you ever want to get rid of the sandbox. You may also want to make a solid base for the sandbox by gluing a fitted piece of wood into the bottom inner opening of the tire.
Put together a garden table. Take two old tires and paint their exteriors any color you’d like. You can paint both of them the same color or alternate colors or even paint an exciting pattern. Once the paint has dried, you should stack the tires, one on top of the other, and use some firm adhesive glue to connect the top and the bottom tires. After this, you can glue a table top to the uppermost tire. You can use a piece of wood, slate, or glass as the garden table top.
- Alternatively, you can make a decorative flat-top garden tire table by gluing a round piece of wood (the same size as the interior hole of the tire) inside the tire, and then gluing rope around the exterior.^[9]
Make a cute dog bed. Simply stuff some pillows inside the interior ring of your old tire until the surface level of the pillows is flush with the outer tire material. Then your pup can lay down on the soft, pillow interior of the tire just like a regular dog bed.^[10]
- Be sure to thoroughly clean the tire with soap and waters (outdoors) before you give it to your dog to sleep on.