About OTS
Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) is an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) incorporated under Ontario’s Waste Diversion Act, to implement and operate the Used Tires Program. This province-wide scrap tire solution for On-road and Off-road tires supplied into the Ontario market, will divert scrap tires away from burning and landfilling to 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) processing and uses. Launched on September 1, 2009, the program will eliminate the “disposal fee” that consumers currently pay to get rid of their old tires – whether or not they are buying new ones -- making it easy and free for Ontarians to get their old tires recycled by dropping them off at registered Collectors across Ontario.
Established in accordance with the Waste Diversion Act of 2002, OTS has been set up by Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO), which is responsible for developing, implementing and operating diversion programs for designated wastes and monitoring their effectiveness and efficiency.
The Used Tires Program is funded by Brand Owners and First Importers of tires, called Stewards, who must remit a Tire Stewardship Fee (TSF) to OTS for every tire they supply into the Ontario market. These TSFs will be used exclusively to fund all aspects of the Program related to the management of used tires. Collection, storage, transportation, reuse and recycling, processing, research and development, and consumer education are key elements.
OTS will provide financial incentives for registered organizations that collect, transport, and process Used Tires or manufacture recycled products in accordance with the Program Plan. These incentives will promote sustainable development and new markets for recycled materials and innovative uses for recycled rubber products. In the first year of the Program this will represent a $23 million investment in the Ontario tire recycling industry in the first year alone, stimulating economic growth and helping to increase capacity.
Within five years, the Program will divert 90% of scrap on-road tires and collect and recycle 50% of all scrap off-road tires.
The Used Tires Program Plan is reflective of extensive consultation with manufacturers, retailers, haulers, processors, environmental non-government organizations, municipalities and other stakeholders, and represents an innovative, results-based diversion program for scrap tires in Ontario in a manner that is both environmentally responsible and economically sound.
For more information about the Program, download the resources below:
Used Tires Program Plan 
Rules for Stewards
Ontario Regulation Amending Reg. 84/03