How to Dispose of Tires: Safe, Legal & Eco-Friendly Methods

One old tire is easy to ignore. A stack of ten behind the garage is not. Tires collect rainwater, attract pests, and sooner or later someone with a clipboard notices them. If you are trying to work out how to dispose of tires without overpaying or breaking a rule, you have more options than most people think. 

This guide from Junk Masterz sticks to what works in Fresno County, from county drop-off sites and free amnesty drives to tire shops and pickup services. Every fee and limit below was checked against official county sources, so you can plan your trip.

Quick answer

Never put tires in your curbside carts. In Fresno, you can pay a small per-tire fee at the county’s American Avenue Disposal Site, leave them with a tire shop when buying new ones, use a free amnesty drive for up to nine passenger tires, or book a hauler for bigger piles.

Why You Can’t Throw Tires in Regular Trash

Can you throw away tires with your weekly trash? No. Carts and standard landfills are not set up for them, and a tire in the wrong bin can get the whole load flagged as contaminated.

Three things make tires a special case. They are hollow and springy, so they resist burial and waste landfill space. A burning pile is very hard to put out and gives off toxic smoke. And a tire left outside holds rainwater, which gives mosquitoes a perfect nursery, including species that can carry West Nile virus. In a warm Central Valley summer, one neglected tire can become a real nuisance quickly.

Is It Waste Yet? Check for Reuse, Resale or Retread First

Before you decide what to do with old tires, spend two minutes checking whether they are actually finished. A usable tire is worth more as a sale than as a disposal fee.

• Date code: Find the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits show the week and year of manufacture, so 2521 means week 25 of 2021. Many tire and vehicle makers set an age limit, often around ten years, so check your owner’s manual.
• Tread: Place a penny in a groove with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is at or below 2/32 inch, and most buyers will pass.
• Damage: Bulges, exposed cord, deep dry-rot cracks, or a patched sidewall mean scrap, not resale.

Tires that pass all three can sometimes be sold or given away, but only to someone who understands their age and condition. Retreading is a separate route, mostly used for commercial truck tires with sound casings, and it rarely applies to passenger tires. If you would not drive on it, do not pass it on.

Tire Disposal Laws, Fees & Fines

California oversees tires through CalRecycle, while counties and cities run the local drop-off programs. The details change with your address.

State Tire Fee vs. Disposal Fee: What You Actually Pay

People mix these up. When you buy new tires in California, the seller collects a state tire fee, listed as its own line on the receipt, which funds waste tire programs. A disposal fee is what a shop, county site, or hauler charges to take your old tire away. Paying the first does not always cover the second, so ask whether old tire removal is included in your installation price.

Penalties for Illegal Dumping

Roadside, ditch, and vacant lot dumping can bring citations and cleanup charges. Amounts differ by city and county, so confirm with local code enforcement instead of trusting a number from a random website. Even a pile on your own property can be cited as a health nuisance in some places. Next to a county fee of a couple of dollars per passenger tire, dumping is a bad bet.

6 Legal Ways to Dispose of Tires

If you are asking where can you get rid of tires without a hassle, these routes work. They run from simplest to most hands-on, and each answers how to dispose of old tires a little differently.

1. Tire shop take-back. Many shops keep your old set when they install new ones, and some accept tires from non-customers for a fee. Call first, since policies and limits differ.
2. County disposal site. This is the direct answer to where to dispose of tires yourself. Any Fresno County resident can use the American Avenue Disposal Site at 18950 W American Avenue in Kerman, and high-visibility safety vests are required on site.
3. Amnesty drives. Unincorporated county residents can drop off used passenger tires at amnesty drives held throughout the year, up to nine tires. Fresno City has run its own events too, so check current dates and bring proof of residency.
4. Licensed hauler or junk removal. With a big pile, no truck or no free Saturday, pickup is the practical choice. We offer Waste Removal Services Fresno CA that cover tire pickup. For a quote based on your tire count and location, call (559) 908-2189. 
5. Sell, donate, or retread. Only for tires that passed the reuse check above.
6. Repurpose. If you are still weighing what to do with old tires at home, they work as planters, garden borders, or obstacle-course gear. Drill drainage holes so a tire never holds standing water, and many gardeners avoid growing food in them.

Which Method Fits You? Quick-Pick Matrix

Here is how to dispose of tires based on your situation, without wasting a trip.

Your situation	Best route	Watch out for
1 to 4 passenger tires	County site or tire shop	Bring a vest at the county site
5 to 9 passenger tires	Amnesty drive or county site	Nine is the cap for drives
10 or more	Hauler, or get an exemption first	Exemption goes through county Environmental Health, or call (559) 908-2189 for a pickup quote
Tires on rims	Call ahead	Rim rules differ by program
Truck or tractor tires	County site	Higher per-tire price, usually not allowed at drives
Business or fleet	Licensed hauler	Amnesty drives are for residents, so call (559) 908-2189
Buying new tires today	Shop take-back	Get the fee in writing

Tire Disposal Cost Breakdown (2026)

Method	Typical cost	What changes the price	Source
Tire shop	Varies, call for a quote	New purchase or not, tire size	Phone quote
County site, passenger	$2.39 each	2.3% card convenience fee	County fee schedule, July 1, 2024
County site, truck/tractor	$9.55 / $14.32 each	Tire size	County fee schedule
Cut or split tire loads	$238.65 per ton (bulk)	Weight	County fee schedule
Amnesty drive	Free	Residency, nine-tire cap	County program page
Hauler or junk removal	Quoted per job	Tire count, access, distance	Written quote
Resale or donation	$0 or small income	Condition	Not applicable

Last checked October 2026. The county also adds a flat $8 fee for uncovered loads, so cover or tarp your tires. The fee schedule is dated July 2024, so call the site at (559) 600-6138 before driving out. 

Also Read: Is it easy to hire junk removal services? 

Step-by-Step: How to Dispose of Tires

1. Check the rules for your address. City of Fresno and unincorporated county residents have different amnesty programs.
2. Sort them. Separate passenger from truck or tractor tires, tires with rims from tires without, and whole tires from cut ones. The county bills altered tire loads as bulk unless they qualify as shredded.
3. Empty and dry them. Tip out water and dirt. Wet tires are heavier and messy to carry.
4. Store them safely. Keep them stacked, covered, and away from heat sources and the house until the trip.
5. Make the call. Use the questions below.
6. Load and secure. A passenger tire often weighs 20 pounds or more, so ten tires is real weight. Tie them down and cover them.
7. Keep your receipt or weight ticket. It is your proof the tires went somewhere legal.

Five questions to ask before you go. When you search for where to dispose of tires near you, ask each place these:

1. Do you take my tire type and size?
2. Must they be off the rims?
3. Is there a per-visit limit?
4. What is the full price, including card fees?
5. What are your hours, and do I need ID or proof of residency?

Why Facilities Reject Tires (and How to Avoid It)

Reason	Fix
Still on rims	Ask if rims are allowed, or have a shop remove them
Over the tire limit	Stay at nine or get an exemption in advance
Commercial tires	Use a licensed hauler
No proof of residency	Bring ID and a recent utility bill
Oversized or tractor tires	Confirm acceptance and the higher fee first
Full of water or debris	Empty them before loading

What Happens to Your Tires After Drop-Off?

The US Tire Manufacturers Association’s 2023 report found that about 79 percent of end-of-life tires went into end-use markets such as ground rubber and tire-derived fuel. That is a national figure, not a promise about your tires, so ask a hauler where yours go. Locally, Fresno County notes that Academy Avenue was repaved with rubberized asphalt made from ground tires, and one amnesty cycle collected enough tires to pave about 7.75 miles of road. 

Conclusion

Getting rid of old tires comes down to picking the right door: a tire shop, the county site, an amnesty drive, or a hauler. Check for reuse first, stay at Nine Tires unless you have an exemption, and keep your receipt. Whether you are still deciding what to do with old tires or already know where to dispose of tires, Junk Masterz can take the loading and driving off your hands. Contact us for a quote.

FAQs

Can you throw away tires if you only have one?

No. A single tire still does not belong in a curbside cart. Take it to a tire shop or the county site, where passenger tires were priced at $2.39 each in the July 2024 schedule.

Where can you get rid of tires for free in Fresno?

Amnesty drives are the free option, with a limit of nine passenger tires for unincorporated county residents. Dates change, so check the county or city website before loading up.

How do I dispose of old tires if I have more than nine?

The county says you need an exemption before hauling more than nine. Call Fresno County Environmental Health at (559) 600-3357, or hire a hauler.

Do tires have to come off the rims?

It depends on the program. Some sites and drives refuse rims, while a past city event accepted them, so ask before you go.

What should I do with old tires that still have good tread?

Check the date code and look for damage. If they are within the age limit and undamaged, sell or donate them to a buyer who will inspect them. If not, recycle them.