Tire Recycling in Canada
Since 2019, we have worked with the Canadian Association of Tire Recycling Agencies (CATRA), a consortium of provincial organizations and businesses that manage the massive flow of scrap tires generated across Canada, to provide material flow accounting and life cycle assessment services.
Our living study follows tires from collection through shredding, grinding, and other downstream processing, to a second life in a range of products in playgrounds, asphalt, and molded goods.
Read about our work on some of our clients’ pages:
Emissions of recycling tires in Canada (2019-2023)
Our critically-reviewed study relied on a nationwide data collection effort from 17 tire recycling facilities across 7 provinces.
The assessment found clear climate gains when recycled rubber displaced virgin asphalt binders or synthetic elastomers, especially in provinces powered by low-carbon electricity. Yet it also revealed hidden costs—long-haul transport from remote regions and electricity-hungry granulators can erode those benefits. By mapping where the wins and trade-offs lie, the study offers policymakers and recyclers a roadmap for making Canada’s circular tire economy cleaner, leaner, and more resilient.
Comparing the Climate impact of 21 recycling options
(negative values indicate emissions savings, compared to no recycling)
In addition to surveying facilities and collecting primary data to create a national aggregate baseline, models were customized based on provincial conditions. Truck freight for tire collection was based on actual provincial shipment records. The recycling process mixes were specified by province, and province-specific electric grids were used.
