Each year in the United States, consumers throw away over 250 million used tires, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association. With an estimated rate of decomposition of 80 years in a landfill, tires could present an enormous disposal problem if manufacturers had not created uses for recycled rubber.
Rubber Mulch
If you ever wished for mulch with limited biodegradability and whose color wouldn't fade away in the sunlight, then rubber mulch is the perfect landscaping material for you. The small pieces of chopped up rubber are sold in bags like regular mulch and offered in a variety of colors for a price only slightly higher than traditional mulch. Because rubber mulch is heavier than traditional mulch, it does not float away as easily, and you can use a blower to clean leaves out of your landscaping with rubber mulch, unlike wood mulch that scatters along with the leaves. The only downsides are that rubber mulch does not retain water or provide nutrients to the soil, so you have to water regularly and manually add nutrients for your plants.
Building Roads
The road construction industry has experienced the benefits of highways constructed with a blend of asphalt and recycled rubber, called crumb rubber. An addition of 15 percent or more of crumb rubber introduced to the asphalt mix reduces cracking in the road's surface, slows degradation of the roadway, reduces tire noise and road spray from standing water, and improves nighttime visibility. No specialty equipment is required to lay rubberized asphalt, making the cost of the upgraded surface minimal in relation to the entire cost of the road. Asphalt-rubber mixes are also used for the construction of bike paths and golf cart paths.
Athletic Surfaces
If recycled rubber can stand up to the rigor of automobile traffic, then foot traffic should be a breeze. Athletic organizations, gyms and schools have experienced the advantages of lower-maintenance, lower-cost rubber athletic surfaces, such as tracks, gym floors, tennis courts and workout flooring for exercise equipment. Athletic surfaces constructed from recycled rubber are slightly harder than surfaces constructed from new rubber, but not so much so that organizations are deterred from opting for the lower-cost surface.
Everything Else
The Rubber Manufacturers Association makes available on the company website a list of manufacturers and the products developed from recycled rubber. Some of those products include mats for horse stalls, office chair mats, non-slip mats for the home, soles for shoes, floor tiles, dock and trailer bumpers, sandals, handbags and coffee tables.
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