$40
City Bulk Sticker per bulky item or appliance, or pay online
6x5 ft
maximum item size for the truck
Free
Kent County SafeChem for household chemicals; yard waste drop-off at 2001 Butterworth SW with ID
Every route for tires in Grand Rapids, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Grand Rapids guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Grand Rapids, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Grand Rapids bulk sticker collection: tires
Not collectedTires are not collected. Tire retailers take them with a purchase, and Kent County lists tire disposal sites.
Why: Electronics (banned from Michigan trash), tires, household hazardous waste, and construction debris.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Grand Rapids: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering tires, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Grand Rapids: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Grand Rapids, Michigan has a distinctive waste system unlike most U.S. cities. Regular trash uses a pay-per-tip model (you pay only when the cart is emptied, not a flat monthly fee), and bulk item pickup uses a $40 sticker system per item rather than scheduled free pickups. The city also has a strong illegal dumping requirement for mattresses: plastic wrapping is mandatory before curbside placement. This guide covers every disposal option for Grand Rapids residents, including the subsidy programs available for low-income households.
The Grand Rapids rule for tires: Tires are not collected. Tire retailers take them with a purchase, and Kent County lists tire disposal sites.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from Michigan trash), tires, household hazardous waste, and construction debris.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Grand Rapids Public Works: Bulk Item Collection, City of Grand Rapids: Yard Waste Services. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Grand Rapids. Kent County Environmental Services operates free HHW disposal for Grand Rapids residents. Contact Kent County at 616-632-7920 or visit kent.gov for current collection event dates and the permanent drop-off facility location.
Why tires are different from ordinary bulk. Tires are widely banned from landfills (state laws in nearly every U.S. state) but easy to recycle through the established tire fee system. The disposal fee is built into every new tire purchase ($1 to $5 per tire), funding end-of-life processing.
Three mistakes that get tires left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit (no new tire purchase, no upcoming collection events, more than the per-event limit):
Auto Shop Tire-Only Disposal
$3 to $8 eachMost auto shops will accept old tires WITHOUT a new tire purchase for $3 to $8 per tire. The fee covers their disposal cost since they didn’t collect the tire fee on a new purchase from you.
The most universal paid option: Available at virtually every auto shop nationally, Discount Tire, Costco Tire Center, Walmart Auto Care, NTB, local independent shops. Many will let you drop off tires anytime during business hours, no appointment.
Volume limit: Most shops cap at 4 to 5 tires per visit. Larger volumes need specialized tire recyclers.
LoadUp paid tires pickup
$80+For Grand Rapids households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Grand Rapids area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your tires. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book tires pickup in Grand Rapids with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Grand Rapids proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Grand Rapids junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national tires disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Grand Rapids: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Grand Rapids pick up tires for free?
No. Tire retailer or a county-listed site.
How much does paid tire removal cost in Grand Rapids?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single tires pickup in Grand Rapids starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Grand Rapids households who need same-day or in-home pickup, need more capacity than free options provide, or want full-service crew-based hauling, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Grand Rapids area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s the cheapest way to dispose of tires?
If you’re buying new tires anyway: free with new tire purchase at any tire shop. The disposal fee is built into the new tire price by state law. If you have old tires without buying new ones: $3 to $8 per tire at most auto shops, or free at periodic city tire collection events. Auto shops are the most universal option, every Discount Tire, Walmart Auto Care, Costco Tire Center, and local independent shop accepts old tires for the disposal fee.
Why are tires banned from landfills?
Whole tires don’t compress in landfills, they trap air and rise to the surface over time, breaking the landfill cap and creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and Zika. Tire piles are also a major fire hazard, tire fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and release toxic smoke. Nearly every U.S. state has banned whole tires from landfills under solid waste laws. Recycled tires get shredded and used as tire-derived fuel for cement kilns and paper mills, crumb rubber for athletic field surfacing and playgrounds, and recycled rubber products.
How does the tire disposal fee work?
Every new tire sold in the U.S. includes a small disposal fee ($1 to $5 per tire built into the purchase price) that funds end-of-life recycling. Tire shops are required by state law to take old tires when you buy new ones, this is the simplest disposal channel and feels free because the cost was already paid when you bought the new tire. The fee varies by state: California $1.75 per tire, New York $2.50 per tire, most southern states $1 to $2 per tire.
What about specialty tires (agricultural, oversized, off-road)?
Most auto shops only accept passenger and light-truck tires. For agricultural tractor tires, oversized truck tires, motorcycle tires, and off-road tires, you’ll need a specialized recycler. Search “tire recycling” plus your tire type. Some farm equipment dealers accept their own brand back. Disposal fees for specialty tires are typically $20 to $100 per tire because of the larger volume of rubber.
Is this Grand Rapids page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Grand Rapids guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
