Rubber mulch has become a popular products for the garden afforestation, sports ground and other uses. It has grown in popularity in recent years because it is soft and has the feel of a natural floor. This makes it an excellent choice for playgrounds as it reduces the risk of injury compared to wood mulch, pebbles and other forms of ground covering.
The Process of Making Rubber Mulch
Collecting old tires
The rubber covering is made by recycling old rubber tyres. Almost all kinds of rubber tires can be used to make rubber coverings, from the small ones on toys to the giant ones on trucks. This keeps old tyres out of landfills and gives them a second life.
Remove the steel band from the old tire
Before rubber cover manufacturers can turn old tires into covers, they need to remove the steel bands that are located inside the tires. A system of magnets is then used to ensure that no reinforcement is left in the tyres, which makes the covering as safe as possible.
Cut up the tires and color them
When the steel is removed from the tire, the tire is shredded by tire shredder machine into small pieces of covering. They will be colored to make them look more beautiful. Black is the most common color for rubber coverings, but manufacturers can make the coverings any desired color.
Packaging rubber covering
When the rubber covering was all made, it was packed into large bags so that it could be shipped out to those who wanted to use it. If you decide to incorporate rubber covering into your playground, you’ll need to find out how much you’ll need before you buy.
Benefits of Rubber Mulch
In addition to the obvious safety benefits, rubber coverings have many other benefits:
- Low overall cost. Although rubber mulch has a higher upfront cost, it is cheaper in the long term because it does not degrade in the same way as wood mulch or other natural alternatives.
- Since rubber mulch does not absorb water, the surface covered with rubber mulch retains more moisture, allowing water and fertilizer to reach the soil below.
- Insects, pests and unwanted weeds have a hard time growing in rubber mulch.
- Installation works made of rubber mulch can last more than 20 years and require less maintenance than wood.
- Rubber mulch can withstand dangerous weather conditions such as blizzards, thunderstorms, and even hurricanes.
Rubber mulch have come under fire in the past because of concerns that long-term exposure to chemicals used to make tires could harm children, pets and the ground itself. However, to date, no studies have shown that rubber mulch poses a toxic hazard. In all respects, the rubber mulch is completely safe.
Another overlooked aspect of rubber mulch is that it is made from recycled tires. Rubber mulch helps reduce global carbon emissions because it is a product that was once buried or burned, and by recycling it can become a safe resource for use in towns and cities.