Tire Disposal in Denver, CO: Where to Recycle, Drop Off & Dispose of Old Tires [2026 Guide]

Colorado regulates tire disposal through the Waste Tire statute (C.R.S. §30-20-101.5). Key rules:

• **Illegal dumping fines:** Up to $10,000 per day of violation. Colorado treats tire dumping as a serious environmental offense because waste tires breed mosquitoes, pose fire hazards, and leach chemicals into groundwater. • **Tire fee:** Colorado charges a $1.50 per-tire Waste Tire Fee on every new tire sold in the state. This fee funds the Colorado Waste Tire Program administered by CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), which provides grants for tire cleanup and recycling. • **Hauler licensing:** Anyone transporting more than 10 waste tires must register as a waste tire hauler with CDPHE. This means you can legally haul up to 10 of your own tires to a recycling facility without registration. • **Landfill restrictions:** Whole tires are banned from Colorado landfills. Tires must be shredded or processed before landfill disposal. This rule exists because whole tires trap gas and "float" to the surface of landfills, creating structural instability.

Denver has several options for tire drop-off, ranging from free (when buying new tires) to modest per-tire fees at recycling facilities. Here are the specific locations and prices.

The Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site at 5500 E. 56th Avenue is the city's primary drop-off for residents. Tires are accepted at a fee of $4 to $8 per passenger tire and $10 to $15 per truck or SUV tire. Tires on rims cost an additional $2 to $5. The facility is open Monday through Saturday 7 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 8 AM to 5 PM. Denver residents must show proof of residency (utility bill or ID). Commercial loads require a separate account.

Most Denver tire shops will accept your old tires — with conditions:

• **Discount Tire (multiple Denver locations):** Free disposal when purchasing new tires. Without a purchase, $3 to $5 per tire disposal fee. Locations at 1395 S. Colorado Blvd, 7420 W. Colfax Ave, 3550 N. Quebec St, and others. • **Les Schwab Tire Centers:** Free disposal with new tire purchase. $3 per tire without purchase. Denver locations on S. Havana St and Federal Blvd. • **Big O Tires (12+ Denver metro locations):** Free disposal included with tire purchase or installation. Walk-in disposal $5 per tire. • **America's Tire:** Free with purchase, $3 to $5 without. • **Colorado Tire Recycling (Commerce City):** Dedicated recycling facility at 6300 Holly St, Commerce City. Accepts any quantity. $2 to $4 per passenger tire, $8 to $12 for commercial truck tires. They process tires into crumb rubber for playgrounds and athletic surfaces.

Denver and surrounding cities run periodic tire collection events, often free for residents:

• **Denver Recycles:** Hosts 2 to 3 tire collection events per year, typically in spring and fall. Check denvergov.org/recycles for dates. Limit of 9 tires per household. • **Arapahoe County Hazardous Waste Events:** Accept tires alongside household hazardous waste. Events held quarterly at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. • **Keep Denver Beautiful:** Partners with CDPHE for neighborhood tire cleanup days in areas with illegal dumping problems.

If you have a large number of tires, no truck, or simply do not want to deal with the hassle, professional removal services handle everything.

• **Dropcurb:** Starting at $79, Dropcurb picks up tires curbside — same day in most Denver zip codes. No limit on quantity. You set your tires at the curb, book online at dropcurb.com/book, and they are gone. Price is locked before you pay, so no surprise fees. Dropcurb handles recycling and proper disposal. • **1-800-GOT-JUNK Denver:** Will pick up tires as part of a junk removal load. Minimum charge approximately $159. They come inside your garage or property. Pricing is volume-based and determined on-site. • **Junk King Denver:** Accepts tires in mixed junk loads. Minimum around $129. On-site pricing. • **Independent haulers:** Craigslist and TaskRabbit haulers in Denver charge $50 to $150 for tire pickup, but most are not registered waste tire haulers as required by CDPHE for loads over 10 tires. If they dump your tires illegally, you could be held liable.

Colorado's Waste Tire Program diverts millions of tires from landfills each year. Here is where your recycled tires actually end up:

• **Crumb rubber:** Ground into granules for playground surfaces, athletic tracks, and artificial turf infill. Colorado Tire Recycling in Commerce City processes over 2 million tires annually into crumb rubber. • **Tire-derived fuel (TDF):** Cement kilns in Colorado — including the GCC Pueblo plant — burn processed tires as supplemental fuel. TDF produces 25% more energy per pound than coal. • **Civil engineering:** Shredded tires are used as lightweight fill in road construction, retaining walls, and drainage projects. CDOT has used tire-derived aggregate in multiple I-25 and I-70 projects. • **Retreading:** Tires with sufficient tread depth and intact casings can be retreaded for commercial fleet use, extending tire life by 30 to 50%.

Not all tires are standard passenger tires. Specialty tires have different disposal requirements and costs.

• **Truck and commercial tires:** Larger and heavier, these cost $10 to $20 per tire to dispose of. Colorado Tire Recycling and the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site both accept them. • **Off-road and ATV tires:** Accepted at most recycling facilities but often classified as oversized, adding $2 to $5 per tire. • **Tires on rims:** Most drop-off locations charge $2 to $5 extra for mounted tires because separating the rim requires equipment. Discount Tire and Les Schwab will demount for free if you purchased tires there. • **Semi-truck tires:** Due to size, most tire shops will not accept these. Colorado Tire Recycling and dedicated commercial tire recyclers are your best option at $15 to $25 per tire.

If you have fewer than 10 tires and a vehicle that can carry them, self-hauling is the cheapest route.

1. **Count your tires.** Colorado law allows you to transport up to 10 waste tires without a hauler registration. 2. **Remove rims if possible.** This saves $2 to $5 per tire at drop-off. Use a tire iron and bead breaker, or have a tire shop demount them for $3 to $5 each. 3. **Choose your drop-off.** Colorado Tire Recycling in Commerce City offers the lowest per-tire fees ($2 to $4). If you are buying new tires, your tire shop will dispose of old ones free. 4. **Load and transport.** Lay tires flat in your trunk or truck bed. Passenger tires weigh 20 to 25 pounds each, so 10 tires equals about 200 to 250 pounds. 5. **Get a receipt.** Always get a disposal receipt. If your tires end up illegally dumped, a receipt proves you disposed of them properly.