Companies Buying Recycled Tyres USA: Top 10 Buyers in 2026
The top companies buying recycled tyres USA in 2026 include Liberty Tire Recycling, Tyrex Resources, BDS Tire Recycling, and Trademark Metals Recycling. These buyers take passenger, truck, and OTR tyres for crumb rubber, tyre-derived fuel, and civil engineering use. Most charge a small per-tyre fee, so suppliers earn through pickup margins, retreadable casings, and recurring volume contracts.
Finding the right companies buying recycled tyres USA can turn a pile of scrap rubber into steady monthly income. Americans throw out 290 million tyres every year, and recyclers now reuse about 80% of that rubber. That number was just 17% back in 1990. So the market is wide open. Big buyers want clean volume, and they pay for it.
At reliablestartup.com, we help founders spot real opportunities like this one. Below, you will find the top buyers, what they pay, and how to start selling fast.
Why Companies Buying Recycled Tyres USA Are Paying More in 2026
The scrap tyre business looks different than it did five years ago. Demand keeps climbing. Several forces push it.
First, new EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) laws now hold tyre makers responsible for end-of-life disposal. As a result, big brands need steady supply partners. Next, crumb rubber and tyre-derived fuel buyers cannot get enough feedstock. Then there’s infrastructure spending. Civil engineers used 56 million scrap tyres last year for road base and shock pads.
Here are the biggest market shifts driving prices up:
- Stockpile pressure: Over 4 billion tyres sit in global stockpiles, and that number could hit 5 billion by 2030.
- New programs launching: Trek Bicycle and Liberty Tire kicked off the first nationwide bike tyre recycling program in late 2024.
- State mandates: More than 35 US states now run dedicated scrap tyre funds.
- Cleaner energy push: Cement plants and paper mills keep replacing coal with tyre-derived fuel.
For a small operator, this matters. Recyclers want reliable suppliers. So locking in a pickup route today can mean longer contracts tomorrow.
Top 10 Scrap Tyre Buyers USA
Before you pitch anyone, see who fits your region and tyre type.
| Company | Region Served | What They Buy | Payment Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Tire Recycling | Nationwide (US + Canada) | Passenger, truck, OTR, casings | Fee-based + bulk contracts | High-volume suppliers |
| Tyrex Resources | Mid-Atlantic | Passenger, light truck scrap | Pickup fee per tyre | Auto shops, fleets |
| BDS Tire Recycling | New England | All scrap tyres | Pickup fee | Regional businesses |
| Tire Disposal & Recycling | Western US | Whole scrap tyres | Drop-off + pickup | West Coast generators |
| K&S Tire Recycling | Multi-state | Waste tyres, 24/7 service | Negotiated | Custom volume deals |
| Trademark Metals Recycling | Florida (22 sites) | Tyres + mixed scrap | Drop-off | Florida operators |
| reRubber | National (upcycling) | Whole tyres for upcycling | Buys feedstock | Sellers wanting upcycle route |
| A&A Tire & Wheel | Dallas / Southwest | Most scrap tyre types | Pays per tyre (after check) | Casing resellers |
| Corporate Tire | East Coast (semi-truck) | Used semi-truck tyres | Pays per tyre (60% salvage) | Trucking fleets |
| RubberForm Recycled Products | Northeast US | Recycled rubber feedstock | Wholesale buyer | Crumb rubber suppliers |
Liberty Tire Recycling leads the pack. Currently, it processes more than 215 million tyres per year. Tyrex and BDS focus on smaller regional routes. Meanwhile, A&A Tire & Wheel and Corporate Tire actually pay sellers for casings that still have life left.
Who Buys Recycled Rubber and Why They Need a Steady Supply
So who buys recycled rubber once it leaves the recycling plant? The answer reaches across many industries. Each one needs a different grade.
Companies Buying Recycled Tyres USA for Manufacturing
Manufacturers turn crumb rubber into everyday products. For example, playground surfaces, sports turf, and running tracks all rely on it. Likewise, rubber mulch sellers buy thousands of tonnes each year for landscaping use. State DOTs also order rubberized asphalt for highway repair, which lasts longer than regular pavement.
Then there are the molded goods makers. They press crumb rubber into floor mats, animal feed bunks, gym tiles, and parking stops. The demand is strong year-round.
Recycled Rubber Wholesale Buyers in Industry
Recycled rubber wholesale buyers sit at the top of the supply chain. Cement kilns, paper mills, and power plants buy tyre-derived fuel (TDF) in massive volumes. Why? Because TDF burns hotter than coal and releases fewer pollutants.
Civil engineering firms come next. They use whole shredded tyres for road base, retaining walls, and septic drain fields. Steel mills also play a role since each tyre holds about two pounds of high-grade steel wire. Brands like RubberForm in New York and Perpetual Rubber on the industrial side both source heavily from US recyclers.
How Much Do Recycled Rubber Wholesale Buyers Pay?
Prices swing based on tyre type, condition, and region. Still, here are realistic 2026 numbers:
- Passenger tyres: $0.50 to $3 per tyre based on condition
- Retreadable semi-truck casings: $20 to $60 each
- Crumb rubber wholesale: $200 to $400 per tonne by mesh size
- Tyre-derived fuel: $30 to $80 per tonne
- Steel wire reclaim: $80 to $150 per tonne
Now, here is the honest part. Most recyclers do not pay you per tyre. Instead, they charge a small disposal fee. Therefore, real money comes from pickup margins, retreadable casings, and bulk resale once you stack volume.
That said, the math still works. Charge an auto shop $2.50 per tyre to haul. Then pay the recycler $1. Your margin sits at $1.50 each. A single trailer load of 800 tyres earns you $1,200 in profit per haul.
Tyre Recycling Customers List: How to Approach Companies Buying Recycled Tyres USA
You cannot just call a recycler and ask for a deal. They want sorted, organized supply. Below is a practical tyre recycling customers list approach that works for new operators.
- Sort first. Group tyres by passenger, light truck, semi-truck, and OTR. Casings go in their own pile.
- Count and weigh. Buyers want hard numbers before they quote.
- Get three quotes minimum. Pricing varies wildly between states.
- Compare pickup against drop-off. Pickup saves you fuel but pays less per tyre.
- Pitch a recurring schedule. Weekly or bi-weekly pickups beat one-time deals.
- Pull state permits early. Most US states require a scrap tyre hauler license before you can move volume.
After that, build a tight pitch deck. Include your service area, truck capacity, expected weekly volume, and pickup days. Recyclers favor suppliers who run like a real business.
Starting a Tyre Supply Business: Profit Potential
This niche fits the ReliableStartup playbook perfectly. Low investment. High demand. Recurring contracts. You can launch with a single truck and a hauler license.
Begin with auto shops, used car lots, and small fleets. They generate scrap tyres weekly and hate storing them. Most are happy to pay $1.50 to $3 per tyre just to keep their lots clean. From there, target dealerships, tyre stores, and salvage yards for bigger volume.
Once you hit 2,000 tyres weekly, you can negotiate direct contracts with regional recyclers. At that point, monthly revenue can clear $8,000 with one truck running four pickup days. Add a second truck and the numbers double. Some operators also resell retreadable casings to companies like Corporate Tire for extra margin.
Conclusion
The scrap tyre niche is one of the most overlooked side-business plays in the US right now. Demand keeps climbing. Buyers keep paying more for clean, sorted volume. And new operators can step in with one truck and a hauler permit. The companies buying recycled tyres USA listed above sign longer contracts every year, so timing matters.
At reliablestartup.com, we always say start lean, validate fast, and pick the route that scales. This one fits all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the largest of the companies buying recycled tyres USA?
Liberty Tire Recycling is the largest. It processes more than 215 million tyres each year across its US and Canada network. The company also reclaims over 4.7 billion pounds of rubber annually.
Can I make money selling used tyres to recyclers?
Yes, but volume matters most. Most recyclers charge a small per-tyre fee, so profit comes from pickup margins, retreadable casings, and bulk crumb rubber resale once you scale.
What states have the most scrap tyre buyers USA?
Texas, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania lead the pack. They have the densest networks because of population, freight traffic, and active state tyre programs.
Do companies buying recycled tyres USA accept damaged tyres?
Most do. Damaged tyres go to crumb rubber, tyre-derived fuel, or civil engineering uses. Retreadable casings always earn the highest payout.
How do I find a tyre recycling customers list near me?
Start with the USTMA recycler directory. Then check your state environmental agency for licensed scrap tyre processor lists. Local auto shops can also point you to the buyers they already use.
