A proprietor of an auto repair shop in Scarborough is facing a predicament as the city demands the removal of over a thousand scrap tires stored on and around the business premises. Seid Sayed, the owner of Flame Auto Repair situated on Kingston Road, received a notification from the city’s municipal licensing and standards division instructing him to clear out the tires by a specified deadline to avoid penalties. However, Sayed is encountering obstacles in disposing of the tires due to changes in the provincial tire recycling regulations.
The new regulations in Ontario, effective since 2019, mandate tire producers to handle recycling individually or delegate their recycling responsibilities to Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). The recent reduction in collection targets for used tires by the Ontario government in January 2025 has added to the challenges faced by businesses like Sayed’s. The amended regulations now require tire producers to recycle only 65% of the collected used tires by weight, down from the previous 85%, and have also decreased the mandated number of collection sites across the province.
Despite previously having a PRO collect the tires from his shop twice a month, Sayed disclosed that the last pickup occurred around seven months ago. His attempts to arrange for the removal of the tires by contacting the PRO and reaching out to Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) have proven futile. Additionally, municipal regulations prevent him from disposing of the tires at a municipal dump, leaving him with limited options.
City officials have acknowledged the difficulty faced by businesses in disposing of scrap tires and emphasized the potential environmental and safety risks posed by large tire stockpiles. While the city has issued a warning to Sayed’s shop, no fines have been imposed at this stage. However, the situation remains unresolved as the issue of surplus tires persists due to changes in recycling targets and regulations.
Adam Moffatt, the executive director of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, highlighted the escalating concerns surrounding the accumulation of tire stockpiles and the lack of viable solutions for tire removal. The Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA) has reiterated the responsibility of tire producers to continue recycling tires, underscoring the ongoing monitoring of compliance with regulatory requirements.
As stakeholders await potential regulatory reforms, the need for tire producers and PROs to manage end-of-life tires effectively remains crucial. The Ministry of the Environment in Ontario has conducted consultations on proposed regulatory changes and is evaluating feedback to determine the next steps in addressing the challenges faced by businesses dealing with tire disposal issues.
The accumulation of excess tires is projected to worsen without regulatory revisions, raising concerns about the storage and management of millions of surplus tires by the end of the year. The urgency to find sustainable solutions for tire disposal is underscored by the growing environmental and logistical challenges faced by businesses in the tire industry.