Is Rubber Mulch Safe For The Environment
Given all that waste recycling tires into rubber mulch sounds like a great idea.
Is rubber mulch safe for the environment. Unlike organic mulch rubber mulch does not enrich soil or increase soil biodiversity through decomposition at worst it leads to soil contamination see environmental impact and safety testing some recycled varieties may leach chemicals some toxic which are harmful to plants rubber mulch is a particular hazard if ignited because of the. Phasmatisnox at english wikipedia gfdl or cc by 3 0 from wikimedia commons. Is rubber mulch safe to put on my garden beds. Americans generate about 290 million scrap tires a year according to the environmental protection agency.
Rubber mulch is frequently used for safety purposes in areas where kids play. Using rubber mulch is a controversial practice. The environmental protection agency acknowledges that more studies of crumb rubber need to be done and has retracted an earlier assurance that crumb rubber turf is safe. Recycling old tires and keeping them out of landfills seems like an environmentally conscious practice.
The idea is for children to bounce off it when falling hence making it a safer material to use than others. Rubber mulches made from shredded tires are touted by manufacturers as permanent aesthetically pleasing and safe for flowers plants and pets.