A productive and much-needed conversation took place this week between Saskatchewan auto recyclers, the Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan (TSS), and the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) — marking what could be an important turning point for the province’s tire program.
Newly appointed CEO Triphina Wirth, just five months into the role, acknowledged a gap that recyclers have been raising for some time: auto recyclers have largely been overlooked within the current system.
That recognition matters.
For many yards across Saskatchewan, tire collection has not been a routine service. In some cases, recyclers reported going up to two years without a pickup, resulting in significant on-site accumulation. Several operations are currently managing 20–25 trailer loads of scrap tires, creating real concerns around space, fire risk, insurance exposure, and day-to-day operations.
This is not how a stewardship program is intended to function.
To her credit, Wirth was direct in acknowledging these challenges and, more importantly, demonstrated a willingness to engage. The discussion focused on practical solutions — ensuring recyclers are properly integrated into the collection system, improving service reliability, and addressing existing backlogs.
The tone of the meeting was constructive. There was a clear commitment from TSS leadership to work with the industry, not around it, and to better understand the operational realities faced by recyclers on the ground.
For the ARC and provincial partners like SARA, this is an important step forward.
Auto recyclers are not incidental to these programs — they are a core part of the recovery network. When they are not serviced, the system breaks down at the source.
This meeting signals a reset: one where communication is open, issues are acknowledged, and solutions are developed collaboratively.
The next step will be turning that momentum into action — consistent collections, clear service standards, and a program that works for all participants across Saskatchewan.
ARC will continue to work closely with TSS and provincial stakeholders to ensure that outcome.
