Tire Recycling in Owensboro, KY
Tires cannot go in Owensboro trash carts; take them to the Grimes Avenue Transfer Station (from $3 per car tire) or book a special load.
See all 6 optionsChecked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check
Before you go
- Ask whether tires on rims cost more.
- Check per-tire fees and how many you can bring at once.
Kentucky rules
- Kentucky imposes a $2 fee on each new motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer tire sold at retail, from July 1, 2020 until July 1, 2034; the fee is subject to sales tax. Source: KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab)
- A tire retailer may pass the $2 new tire fee on to the buyer. Source: KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab)
More Kentucky rules (16)
- Department of Revenue: the $2 tire fee applies to each new tire sold at retail in Kentucky for motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers. Source: Kentucky Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle Tire Fee (opens in new tab)
- Recapped tires, used tires, tires for off-highway vehicles and tires on a vehicle before its original sale are exempt from the fee. Source: Kentucky Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle Tire Fee (opens in new tab)
- A tire retailer must accept, if offered, one waste tire of similar size and type for each new motor vehicle tire it sells. Source: KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab)
- When a new tire replaces an old one, the retailer must encourage the buyer to leave the old tire with the retailer, or else dispose of it legally, give it to a registered waste tire handler, or reuse it. Source: KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab)
- Waste tires may be disposed of in Kentucky only by transfer to a permitted solid waste disposal facility, under processing conditions set in law. Source: KRS 224.50-856: Disposal of waste tires (opens in new tab)
- The fee goes to the Waste Tire Trust Fund, which pays for managing scrap tires and developing markets for recycled tire products. Source: Kentucky Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle Tire Fee (opens in new tab)
- Nobody may keep more than 100 waste tires at a time without meeting waste tire program requirements, unless exempt. Source: KRS 224.50-856: Disposal of waste tires (opens in new tab)
- Hauling more than 50 waste tires at a time requires meeting waste tire program requirements. Source: KRS 224.50-856: Disposal of waste tires (opens in new tab)
- Kentucky requires tire retailers, transporters and accumulators to register with the state and post a bond. Source: Kentucky DWM: Waste Tires (opens in new tab)
- DWM offers each county that applies a $4,000 grant each year to dispose of waste tires properly, separate from the state collection events. Source: Kentucky DWM: Waste Tires (opens in new tab)
- Every Kentucky county must provide a universal collection program for municipal solid waste: door-to-door collection, direct haul to staffed convenience centers or transfer facilities, or another approved option. Source: KRS 224.43-315: County universal municipal solid waste collection program (opens in new tab)
- Counties may let residents haul their own waste to cabinet-approved staffed convenience centers or transfer facilities in the county. Source: KRS 224.43-315: County universal municipal solid waste collection program (opens in new tab)
- State law funds recycling and household hazardous waste grants from the Kentucky Pride Fund; counties, cities and other local governments may apply. Source: KRS 224.43-505: Kentucky Pride Fund; recycling and household hazardous waste grants (opens in new tab)
- The state household hazardous waste grant pays for counties to hold annual drop-off events for household chemicals, old electronics and other hazardous waste. Source: Kentucky EEC press release (May 14, 2026): $6 million for recycling and household hazardous waste (opens in new tab)
- The cabinet provides technical assistance to local governments that set up household hazardous waste education or collection programs. Source: KRS 224.10-610: Assistance to household hazardous waste educational and collection programs (opens in new tab)
- The fourth week in March is Commonwealth Cleanup Week, a volunteer cleanup week set by the 1998 General Assembly. Source: Kentucky DWM: Commonwealth Cleanup Week (opens in new tab)
Where this information comes from (34)
Where this information comes from
Checked October 26, 2026
- Bulky Collections and Special Loads (opens in new tab) · City of Owensboro Sanitation Department
- Typical special-load items are excess household waste, old furniture, TVs and rugs, appliances such as washers and refrigerators, and tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Special loads cost $15 per pickup-truck-sized load, plus $20 for Freon items and a per-tire charge that varies by type. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Call in advance; there is only one truck for this service, so delays are possible. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Neighborhood Cleanups (opens in new tab) · City of Owensboro
- The Owensboro Neighborhood Alliances host annual neighborhood cleanups, a free way for residents to get rid of bulky items. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The cleanups are run by the Neighborhood Alliance Program and the Sanitation Department to dispose of large bulk trash items at no cost. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Crews collect junk furniture, appliances, tires and small bagged or boxed trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Place items at the curb (not in the street) the Friday night before your scheduled cleanup. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The 2026 cleanups ran by Neighborhood Alliance from March 7 (Hillcrest) to June 20 (Audubon-Bon Harbor). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residential Trash Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Owensboro Sanitation Department
- Tires are prohibited from residential trash; bring them to the Transfer Station (there will be a charge). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Grimes Avenue Transfer Station & Convenience Center (opens in new tab) · Daviess County Fiscal Court
- The transfer station recycles aluminum, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, used motor oil, tires and other metals. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Grimes Avenue Transfer Station & Convenience Center Rates (opens in new tab) · Daviess County Fiscal Court
- Waste tire charges: car $3.00 off-rim / $5.00 on-rim; light truck $3.00 / $6.00. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Rates differ for in-county and out-of-county solid waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
- KRS 224.50-868: New tire fee; disposal of replaced tire; retailer requirements (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
- Kentucky imposes a $2 fee on each new motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer tire sold at retail, from July 1, 2020 until July 1, 2034; the fee is subject to sales tax. Checked October 26, 2026.
- A tire retailer may pass the $2 new tire fee on to the buyer. Checked October 26, 2026.
- A tire retailer must accept, if offered, one waste tire of similar size and type for each new motor vehicle tire it sells. Checked October 26, 2026.
- When a new tire replaces an old one, the retailer must encourage the buyer to leave the old tire with the retailer, or else dispose of it legally, give it to a registered waste tire handler, or reuse it. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Retailers selling new motor vehicle tires must accept, if offered, a waste tire of similar size and type for each new tire sold. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Retailers must post a notice that state law requires them to accept a waste tire for each new tire sold. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Kentucky Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle Tire Fee (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Department of Revenue
- Department of Revenue: the $2 tire fee applies to each new tire sold at retail in Kentucky for motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Recapped tires, used tires, tires for off-highway vehicles and tires on a vehicle before its original sale are exempt from the fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The fee goes to the Waste Tire Trust Fund, which pays for managing scrap tires and developing markets for recycled tire products. Checked October 26, 2026.
- KRS 224.50-856: Disposal of waste tires (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
- Waste tires may be disposed of in Kentucky only by transfer to a permitted solid waste disposal facility, under processing conditions set in law. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Nobody may keep more than 100 waste tires at a time without meeting waste tire program requirements, unless exempt. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Hauling more than 50 waste tires at a time requires meeting waste tire program requirements. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Kentucky DWM: Waste Tires (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Waste Management
- Kentucky requires tire retailers, transporters and accumulators to register with the state and post a bond. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DWM offers each county that applies a $4,000 grant each year to dispose of waste tires properly, separate from the state collection events. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DWM offers free waste tire collection events to Kentucky residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The events rotate so that each county gets one every three years, in the spring or fall; schedules are posted every August and February. Checked October 26, 2026.
- KRS 224.43-315: County universal municipal solid waste collection program (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
- Every Kentucky county must provide a universal collection program for municipal solid waste: door-to-door collection, direct haul to staffed convenience centers or transfer facilities, or another approved option. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Counties may let residents haul their own waste to cabinet-approved staffed convenience centers or transfer facilities in the county. Checked October 26, 2026.
- KRS 224.43-505: Kentucky Pride Fund; recycling and household hazardous waste grants (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
- State law funds recycling and household hazardous waste grants from the Kentucky Pride Fund; counties, cities and other local governments may apply. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Kentucky EEC press release (May 14, 2026): $6 million for recycling and household hazardous waste (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
- The state household hazardous waste grant pays for counties to hold annual drop-off events for household chemicals, old electronics and other hazardous waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
- KRS 224.10-610: Assistance to household hazardous waste educational and collection programs (opens in new tab) · Kentucky General Assembly (Legislative Research Commission)
- The cabinet provides technical assistance to local governments that set up household hazardous waste education or collection programs. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Kentucky DWM: Commonwealth Cleanup Week (opens in new tab) · Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Waste Management
- The fourth week in March is Commonwealth Cleanup Week, a volunteer cleanup week set by the 1998 General Assembly. Checked October 26, 2026.
“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.
How we check our information