Reusing Tires As Rubber Mulch
- 1). Examine the tires to determine if a steel belt is present. Steel should not go into the grinder. When collecting tires, avoid any with steel belting; removing the belt is a difficult process. If you can only obtain tires with steel belts, remove them with a strong pair of pliers.
- 2). Wash the tires with water and cleaning solution. If the tires are washed well, you can get rid of some of the tar and other undesirable toxins present on them. It will be much easier to wash the tires than to wash the mulch.
- 3). Rent a shredder capable of grinding the tires into mulch. When at a rental center, be sure to determine that the device is capable of handling thick rubber material before you rent it. Many shredders will not have this capability.
- 4). Place the tires into the shredder and use the device as the manufacturer recommends. The rubber should be ground or shredded until it is the same size as pieces of traditional mulch.
- 5). Distribute the pieces on a large plastic sheet, ensuring that none of the pieces are stacked on each other. Spray them with paint of your desired color. Ensure that the paint is acceptable for use on rubber.
- 6). Turn the pieces and spray them again. Continue this process until each piece is coated entirely.
- 7). Place the rubber mulch in your playground or garden. For playgrounds, the mulch should be at a depth of 4 to 6 inches. For gardens, only 1 1/2 to 2 inches is necessary.
