What municipalities should know about tire collection
Do you work in a municipality and need to organize the collection of used tires?
Good news: you don’t need a municipal yard to make it work!
Maybe you’ve considered setting up your own collection point at the local collection yard. But be careful — while it may seem simple at first, it comes with significant administrative, financial, and operational burden.
In Slovakia, if a municipality wants to officially register its own collection point, it must have:
- A binding municipal ordinance (VZN) that regulates tire take-back
- Approval from the District Office
In most cases, collecting tires at the municipal yard isn’t necessary. There is a simpler and more cost-effective solution.
Used tires belong in service centers
Don’t have the space, time, or capacity to set up and operate a collection point for tires? You don’t have to.
Use what already works: the Eltma collection network, located directly in car and tire service centers – exactly where tires naturally occur. Citizens can drop off their tires when changing them – or even without using any paid services.
Take-back is completely free
At all collection points participating in the Eltma collective system, used tires can be handed over without any fees. You don’t pay anything at the time of drop-off or later.
There are no hidden fees or additional charges for environmentally friendly processing.
What does not belong in the take-back system?
Tyres from illegal dumps, large stockpiles, or individual parts (e.g., inner tubes only).
What belongs in the take-back system?
At the collection point, you can hand in regularly worn tyres from vehicles without rims that are complete and come from regular users.
Citizens unaware of it? We’ll help — for free!
We provide municipalities with complete information support at no cost – we’ll send printed leaflets upon request and provide digital materials and ready-to-use content for your municipal website or notice board.
This way, citizens learn how easily they can hand over tires without burdening the municipal collection yard or its staff. Digital versions of all materials, clearly guiding citizens to collection points, can be downloaded here.
Benefits for your municipality
- No need to establish your own collection point
- Save budget and staff capacity
- No responsibility for handling the tires
- Citizens get a simple and accessible way to dispose of tires ecologically
Comparison: where to collect tires
Convenience for citizens
No costs for the municipality
Municipality bears no responsibility for collection
Yard staff do not have to handle tires
No need to reserve space for piles of used tires
Citizens have access to a wide national network of collection sites
Get in touch with Eltma – we’ll be happy to help and connect you. Contact us at info@eltma.sk or by phone at +421 222 205 784.
With Eltma, you can do it even without a municipal collection yard.
Is a municipality required to establish its own collection point for tires?
No! A municipality is not obliged to operate its own site. Across Slovakia, Eltma has a network of collection points at car and tire service centers where citizens can return tires free of charge. This approach is simple, cost-free and reduces administrative workload.
What types of tires qualify for take-back?
Regularly worn, complete tires from vehicles used by ordinary drivers.
This does not include tires from illegal dumps, large stockpiles, or separate parts (e.g., inner tubes only).
Where can we find the nearest collection point?
The up-to-date list of locations is available at www.eltma.sk, or we will gladly provide the information via our hotline.
How much will it cost us?
Nothing! Tire take-back through the network of service centers is completely free. By directing citizens to the Eltma collection network, your municipality saves operational costs and staff time.
What if citizens still bring tires to the municipal collection yard?
We recommend redirecting them to the nearest collection point and publishing educational materials that explain where tires should go — and why the municipal yard is not the correct place.
How can we inform citizens where to take their tires?
We will provide free educational materials (flyers) in digital or printed form — even if you don’t formally cooperate with us. You can, for example:
What if, despite this, we still want to open our own municipal collection point?
It’s possible provided the municipality has a valid VZN regulating tire take-back and obtains formal approval from the relevant District Office to operate the collection yard.
Do we need to issue a VZN if we want a municipal collection point?
Yes. A valid VZN regulating tire take-back is required. For more information, please contact our hotline or info@eltma.sk
Who handles transportation and processing of the tires?
Eltma’s contracted partners handle the transport and further processing. Tires go for treatment where they are predominantly recycled into materials used in products such as noise-barrier walls or shock-absorbing pads — replacing primary materials from fossil sources and contributing to the circular economy and protection of natural resources.
Is this a solution you recommend for all municipalities?
Yes. Service centers are the natural location for tire take-back. Thanks to this network, tires return to where they naturally occur, and municipalities don’t have to invest time, money, or capacity into operating their own site.
Do municipalities get paid for operating a collection point?
No. Even if a municipality starts collecting tires at its own yard, Eltma does not reimburse the related costs. Expenses for yard adjustment, staff, equipment or tire handling are borne by the municipality. Eltma then ensures the collection and recycling of the tires.
+421
222 205 784
info@eltma.sk