Where to Recycle Tires in Chicago: Drop-Off Locations, Fees & What Happens to Old Tires

You can't toss old tires in your regular trash or recycling bin in Chicago. The city's waste haulers won't take them, and landfills don't accept them. But you do have options: the shop that sells your next set is required by Illinois law to take the old ones, and registered tire recyclers around the metro area accept drop-offs for a fee.

Here's where to take old tires in Chicago, what you'll pay, and what actually happens to them after drop-off.

Is There Free Tire Recycling in Chicago?

No. The City of Chicago does not run a free tire drop-off. Its own A-Z List of Recycling Opportunities lists tires as not accepted in the Blue Cart programme or at city drop-off centres, and the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility names tires on its not-accepted list.

That leaves two realistic routes: a registered tire recycler, or the shop that sells you your next set. Under Illinois law a tire retailer must accept the same number of used tires as the new tires you buy, so the easiest disposal is usually at the point of replacement.

Where to Take Used Tires Near Chicago

Illinois EPA publishes a list of businesses that accept and process used tires from the general public. These are its Metro Chicago entries. All sit outside the city limits, and fees vary by size and quantity, so call before you drive.

• Illinois Tire Recycling — 4845 W. Ogden Ave, Cicero, IL 60804 — (800) 734-8187

• K&S Tire Recycling — 303 State St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 — (708) 856-0376

• Tri-State Disposal — 13903 S. Ashland Ave, Riverdale, IL 60627 — (708) 388-9910

• Liberty Tire Recycling / Lakin General — 2001 Greenfield Ave, Montgomery, IL 60538 — (773) 871-6360

• Tire Management Holdings — 4821 NE Industrial Dr, Aurora, IL 60505 — (630) 844-1676

• Treadstone Tire Recycling — 175 S. Des Plaines St, Joliet, IL 60427 — (815) 436-5587

This list comes from the Illinois EPA Used Tire Program, which notes that it does not endorse these businesses and that the list changes over time. The programme can be reached on (217) 785-8604.

Expect to pay more for tires still mounted on rims, and for truck or tractor tires.

What Happens to Recycled Tires?

Tires don't go to a landfill — they get processed into new materials:

• Tire-derived fuel (TDF): Shredded tires burn hotter than coal and are used in cement kilns and power plants

• Crumb rubber: Ground-up tire rubber becomes playground surfaces, rubberized asphalt, athletic tracks, and gym flooring

• Civil engineering projects: Whole or shredded tires are used as lightweight fill for road embankments and erosion control

• Rubber mulch: Landscaping material for playgrounds and gardens

• New tire manufacturing: Some facilities extract steel wire and reprocess rubber into new products

Tire pyrolysis — breaking tires down into oil, gas and carbon black — is opening further markets for old tires.

What You Can't Do with Old Tires in Chicago

Don't try these — they're illegal or won't work:

• Curbside trash/recycling: City haulers and private waste companies won't take tires

• Alley dumping: fines start at $1,500 for a first offence, with jail time of up to 6 months, community service of up to 200 hours, and impoundment of the vehicle at the owner's expense

• Burning: Tire fires release toxic chemicals and are prohibited in Cook County

• Landfills: Illinois landfills are banned from accepting whole tires

Tire Shops That Recycle When You Buy New Tires

This is the easiest route, and in Illinois it is not a favour. The Illinois EPA states that retailers are required by law to accept a quantity of used tires equal to the number of new tires purchased, and asks that you report a shop that refuses and take your business elsewhere. The Used Tire Program can be reached on (217) 785-8604.

Expect a $2.50 per tire user fee on the bill. That is the statutory Used Tire Management fee charged to customers on every new and used tire sold at retail in Illinois, not something the shop invented. Shops may add a separate disposal or mounting charge on top, so ask what is included when you get a quote.

Tire Recycling for Chicago Businesses

If you operate a business that generates tire waste (auto shops, fleet services, landscaping companies), you'll need a commercial tire recycling contract.

What to expect:

• Scheduled pickups or drop-off accounts

• Per-tire fees or monthly service contracts

• Documentation for environmental compliance reporting

• Lower per-tire costs for high volumes

Commercial tire recyclers serving the Chicago area include Liberty Tire Recycling in Montgomery and Tri-State Disposal in Riverdale, both listed by Illinois EPA as accepting used tires from the public. Get quotes from at least two providers — pricing varies significantly based on volume and pickup frequency.

How to Prep Tires for Recycling

Before you drop off tires:

1. Remove from rims if possible — you'll pay less at most facilities

2. Clean off excessive mud or debris — some facilities reject extremely dirty tires

3. Separate by type — passenger car vs. truck vs. specialty tires

4. Count them — know your quantity before you arrive

5. Bring cash — smaller recyclers may not accept cards

Leave valve stems attached — recyclers remove them during processing.

Need Help with Bulk Tire Disposal or Commercial Recycling?

If you're a Chicago business dealing with tire waste, construction debris, or need regular recycling services, GreenWay Recycles can help you set up compliant disposal solutions.

Call us at (773) 522-0025 to discuss commercial tire recycling, bulk waste management, or ongoing recycling services for your business.

We work with Chicago-area companies to create cost-effective recycling programs that keep materials out of landfills and meet Illinois environmental regulations.