Dear OTS Stakeholders,

Through discussions with stakeholders involved in used tire culling, Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) has become aware of some misunderstanding regarding what information stakeholders are required to provide to OTS in order to validate the authenticity of the transactions and whether the end-use for the used tires is consistent with the approved Used Tires Program (UTP). This Policy Memo is intended to provide additional clarity regarding stakeholders’ obligations in this regard, consistent with the responsibilities under the Agreements with OTS.

With respect to Used Tires Culled for reuse, stakeholders’ must:

Report to OTS on all quantities of Used Tires culled in the manner specified by OTS;
Maintain detailed information regarding the final destinations and end-uses of culled tires;
Not transfer,sell or otherwise send culled tires for any final purpose that is not an approved purpose under the Used Tires Program.

Information regarding quantities of tires culled for reuse is filed as part of a stakeholder’s regular claim. In certain instances supporting information may be submitted as part of the claim filing process, however OTS may at its own discretion request additional supporting information to validate the quantity and end-destinations and uses of used tires having been culled by the stakeholder.

OTS recognizes that there may a range of supply chain channels through which used tires may be shipped to market and an equally diverse range of information that a stakeholder culling used tires may provide. In order to discharge its obligations under the UTP, OTS must verify to a reasonable degree that used tires that have been culled have in fact been used consistent with OTS UTP. To accomplish this, OTS requires stakeholders to demonstrate the following:

The used tires types and quantity reported as culled were in the stakeholder’s inventory;
The culled tires were shipped to the stakeholder’s customer and the customer received them;
Payment was received from the stakeholder’s customer;
The final customer of the culled tires and their full contact information;
The culled tires were reused.

Stakeholders are obligated under the relevant Agreement with OTS to be able to provide OTS with the appropriate information on request. In the event that this information is not or cannot be provided, OTS may reassess the stakeholder’s account, potentially impacting a stakeholder’s historic claims and resulting in funds being due to OTS. Depending on the circumstances these identified instances of non-compliance with the Agreement may further result in suspension and/or termination from the UTP.

Stakeholders with questions regarding this or any other UTP policy or process are invited to contact OTS at info@rethinktires.ca or by phone at 888-687-2202. We look forward to continuing to work with you to divert Ontario’s used tires to high-value recycled end-used.

Regards,