Roles & Operations: Collectors

With locations across Ontario, through stores, vehicle dealerships, garages, and many more, Collectors are the organizations that provide a valuable service to the consumer by collecting used tires. These are the tires that are diverted from the waste stream, such as disposal by burning or in a landfill, to recycling into new products that add value to the life of Ontario’s communities.

Funded by tire Brand Owners and First Importers, collectively called Stewards, the Used Tire Program is supported by Tire Stewardship Fees levied on each tire supplied into Ontario. These fees are collected by Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) and will allow the Program to manage the collection, storage, transportation, reuse and recycling, and processing of used tires.

Role and Requirements of Collectors

Once registered with OTS and the Used Tires Program, Collectors are responsible for meeting the following requirements:

  • Reporting on the types and quantity of tires they collect

  • Accepting free used tire drop-offs for the types of used tires that they agree to collect (and that are part of the Program Plan). In addition to those tires, registered Collectors who are retailers are obligated to accept up to 4 used tires per person at no charge without the person having to make a purchase.

  • Storing tires in accordance with Ministry of Environment and Fire Marshall Regulations, and in a manner that ensures they are free of foreign material and excessive moisture, and are secure and accessible for easy pick up

  • Using OTS registered Haulers for free pick up of tires

  • Keeping records of the number of used tires accumulated and the Hauler(s) who pick up their used tires in accordance with OTS requirements

  • Agree to wait until a minimum number of tires have been accumulated before calling for a pick-up. The minimum number of tires is 50 tires in Southern Ontario, and 75 tires for Northern Ontario. However, this number is negotiable between the registered Collector and registered Hauler.

Incentives for Collectors

Notice to All Collectors re: Claim Adjustments

In response to Collector concerns regarding the ability to adjust Claims submitted within the filing deadline but which may have not have accurately characterized the quantities of eligible program tires collected during the Claim period, OTS will be allowing identified Collectors to file the necessary adjustments in the 4th quarter Claim filing period (i.e. January – March 2011).

Only Collectors that have identified themselves to OTS as requiring this ability, and who have filed a Claim for the period for which they are requesting the ability to make adjustments will be eligible to utilize this functionality. Collectors who have not filed a Claim for a given period will not be able to use this functionality to file a new Claim.

Due to the increasing number of Collectors who are identifying themselves as having filed an incomplete or inaccurate claim OTS is experiencing significant additional administrative and system challenges managing these cases. Effective immediately OTS is implementing the following policy applying to adjustments:

All adjustments made to Collector Claims requested on July 16th 2010 or later may be subject to a 20% administrative penalty on the net adjustment.

The application of this Administrative penalty is subject to review by OTS, and will apply only to the adjustment portion of the Collector Claim, and not the entire Claim that a Collector may have submitted for a given Claim period.

All Collectors wishing to utilize the Collector Claim Adjustment option in the January – March 2011 time should send a note to Collector@ontariots.ca to identify themselves with the following information:

  • Collector number
  • e-mail address
  • phone number
  • organization name
  • contact person name
  • the period they will be submitting adjustments for
  • total tire counts broken down by tire type (i.e- PLT, MT, AG/LS, IND,
    SOTR, MOTR, LOTR, GOTR)
  • Explanation for the adjustment


This note will allow OTS to contact you directly when the Adjustment function is enabled in January 2011. Only Collectors that have submitted Claims for a given reporting period will be able to file Adjustments. Collectors who did not file a Claim will not be able to use this function to enter a new claim.

For questions regarding this policy or the process for filing adjustments to Collector Claims contact at OTS at Collector@ontarioTS.ca , or by phone at 1-888-OTS-2202.

Registered Collectors that meet the above Used Tires Program requirements are eligible for the following benefits and incentives:

  • Free pick up of used tires by registered haulers

  • OTS point of sale (POS) material for customers

  • Your name posted on the OTS website as a registered Collector

  • Registered Collectors will receive a Used Tire Collection Allowance on tires received from residents

Used Tires Program Collection Incentive Chart (Year 1)

 Program Tire Classification   Incentive per PTE 
 Passenger Light Truck (PL/T) Tires    $0.88
 Medium Truck (MT) Tires   $3.05
 Off the Road (OTR) Tires (< or = 1 PTE)   $0.88
 Off the Road (OTR) Tires ( > 1 PTE)   $3.05

**One (1) Passenger Tire Equivalent (PTE) is equal to ten (10) kg**

Please refer to Section 2: Collectors in the Operational Registrant’s Guidebook under Collector Resources for more information.

Collector Resources

Information is available to differentiate between collectors and generators. For more information please click here

Collectors Allowance Claims Filing - OTS is pleased to announce the opening of the Collection Allowance Claims process. Registered Collectors are now able to go on-line to the OTS website at www.ontariots.ca and log-into their account to complete and submit their Collector Claim for payment of the Collection allowance of $0.88 per PLT tire and $3.05 per OTR tire on all program tires collected after September 1st 2009.

The attached document contains detailed instruction on how to complete and submit a Collection Allowance claim through the OTS website, and questions can be directed to the OTS Operations Center at 1-888-OTS-2202.

Your first Collection Allowance claim covers tires collected in the period September 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009. Collectors will submit claims 4 times in a calendar year for time periods defined as:

  • January to March 2010
  • April to Jun 2010
  • July to September 2010
  • October - December 2010

Collectors can submit claims after the last day of the claim period and submissions must be received no later than 90 days following the end of the claim period or the Collection Allowance may not be paid. For example, claims for the period September 1 - December 31, 2009 must be submitted by March 31, 2010.

You can enter and save information for the current claim period January - March 2010 and you will be able to submit the claim starting April 1, 2010. The submit button will be disabled until April 1, 2010.

In addition OTS will be holding a series of webinars to review the Collection Allowance Claims process on the following dates:

  • January 26th from 8:30am – 9:30am – To attend this meeting click the following link
  • January 27th from 3:00pm – 4:00 pm – To attend this meeting click the following link
  • February 1st from 8:30am – 9:30am To attend this meeting click the following link

Please direct any questions regarding the Collection Allowance Claims process to the OTS Operations Center at
1-888-OTS-2202 or collector@ontariots.ca.

Collector Opening Inventory Declaration Online Form

Registered Collectors must declare their opening used tires inventory. Use the link above to access and submit your online declaration form. Forms must be submitted to OTS on or before September 8th, 2009.

Collector Forms – Note that the documents below are samples only. Please contact OTS at Collector@ontarioTS.ca or 1-888-OTS-2202 to request copies of any of the forms.

  1. OTS Tire Collection Receipt Form
  2. OTS Dedicated Off The Road Tire Collection Form

  3. Unregistered Collection Receipt Form

Operational Registrant’s Guidebook

This Guidebook explains your requirements and incentives under the Program. It includes:

  • Role description, requirements and incentives for Collectors
  • Collector Agreement
  • Instructions on how to register, including help with completing your application form

Information Session by Role – Collectors
Access the presentation and the prerecorded Webinar session(s) and learn what roles and requirements a registered Collector has under the Used Tires Program.

Find a Registered Participant
Find a Registered Steward, Collector, Hauler, Processor and Recycled Product Manufacturer (RPM) operating in your area!

Marketing Materials
Access Ontario Tire Stewardship Promotional and educational point of sale materials.