Tire and Automotive Waste Disposal in Colorado Springs
Quick Answer: Car and truck tires cannot go in a rental dumpster. Tire retailers accept them for a small per-tire fee, and most will take them whether or not you bought there.
• Tires are excluded from landfills and from dumpsters
• Expect a small disposal fee per tire at a retailer
• Free when the shop mounts your new tires — just leave the old ones
• CF&I on E Las Vegas St handles other automotive scrap
Tires are excluded from dumpsters everywhere, and the reason is physical rather than chemical: they trap air, float to the surface of a landfill, and do not break down. Colorado, like most states, keeps them out of the waste stream entirely.
Why Can't Tires Go in a Dumpster?
A buried tire eventually works its way back to the surface — the trapped air makes it buoyant in a compacting landfill. They also collect standing water, which makes them a mosquito problem, and they burn badly if a landfill fire ever starts.
So they get handled separately, shredded and repurposed into things like crumb rubber, playground surfacing and fuel.
Where Do I Take Tires in Colorado Springs?
Tire retailers. Almost any tire shop will take used tires for a small per-tire fee, typically whether or not you bought them there. Call first and ask the rate and any limit on quantity.
Free, if you time it right. When you have new tires mounted, the shop disposes of the old ones as part of the job. If you have a spare set sitting in the garage, bring them along to that appointment.
El Paso County HHW facility, 3255 Akers Dr. Handles various automotive waste including batteries and motor oil. Call 719-520-7878 to confirm what they currently take on tires.
What About Other Automotive Waste?
None of it goes in a dumpster:
| Item | Where It Goes |
|---|---|
| Car batteries | HHW facility or auto parts retailers — often with a core credit |
| Motor oil and filters | HHW facility, free for county households |
| Antifreeze | HHW facility |
| Scrap metal and parts | CF&I Recycling, 2690 E Las Vegas St — pays for scrap |
Our hazardous waste guide covers the county facility in more detail.
Clearing Out a Garage With Tires In It
Garages accumulate tires the way basements accumulate boxes — a set from a car sold years ago, a spare that never fit anything. Deal with them on a separate trip before the bin lands, along with the oil and the battery, and the cleanout itself gets simple.
Everything else in a typical garage — shelving, furniture, boxes, lumber, broken tools — goes straight in. What can go in a dumpster has the full list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put tires in a dumpster?
No. Tires are excluded from dumpsters and landfills. Take them to a tire retailer.
How much does tire disposal cost in Colorado Springs?
Usually a few dollars per tire at a retailer. Free if the shop is mounting new tires for you at the same time.
What if I have a lot of tires?
Call ahead. Shops often cap how many they will accept in one visit from a walk-in.
Can I put a car battery in the dumpster?
No. Auto parts retailers take them, often with a core credit, and the county HHW facility accepts them free.
Garage cleanout?
Route the tires and chemicals first, and the bin handles the rest.
Book a Dumpster or call 719-686-8613
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brandon Dinkel — Owner, Bin There Dump That Colorado Springs
Brandon and Rene Dinkel own and operate Bin There Dump That Colorado Springs, delivering residential-friendly dumpsters across El Paso County — Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, and the surrounding communities. Every bin comes with driveway protection and a walk-in door, and every load is disposed of at approved local facilities.
Meet Brandon and Rene or call 719-686-8613.