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How to Reuse Those Old Tires

by GLI Editors in Green Resources, Reuse, Waste Reduction

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While many people don’t give tires a second thought beyond inflating air pressure from time to time, those big, old pieces of rubber are actually quite useful for someone who practices sustainable living. Tire reuse right in your back yard doesn’t just make the trash pile at the dump smaller; it also saves you money on tire disposal fees. Consider these creative ways to (re)use tires to help you with your commitment for sustainable living:

Place a tire in your garden area and fill it about halfway full of compost. Put a layer of potatoes on top of the compost and fill the tire the rest of the way with more compost or chopped leaves. As the potato plants start to sprout, you will want to position a second tire on top of the first one. Gradually add more chopped leaves or compost as the plants grow. When the potatoes are ready to be harvested, picking them is as easy as lifting off the tires and pulling those fresh new potatoes from the plants.

Turn the tires into part of your children’s play area. Tires hold sand to make compact sandboxes, make wonderful swings, and can be used to create obstacle courses.

Use tires to protect newly planted trees from vigorous mowers. Place a tire that has been cut open along one side around the base of your fragile new addition. When the tree grows large enough that the trunk almost fills up the tire, pull the tire open and lift it away from the tree.

Posted on Oct 22, 2007

Tags:

recycle, Reuse, reuse tires, rubber, tires

About the Author

GLI Editors

Green Living Ideas provides ideas, tips, and information to help you improve the environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life: home energy, green building and remodeling, cars, food, waste recycling—and everything in between. GLI's editorial voice is driven by founder Sean Daily and Editor-In-Chief Adam Shake, and written by an amazing staff of author and interns.

7 Responses to “How to Reuse Those Old Tires”

Stacey

Mar 03, 2008

Thank you for this quick and helpful article. Other ideas would be appreciated!
Guest

Jul 20, 2008

Worse thing you can do is plant vegetables you eat inside a tire. The vegies, especially tires pick up the \”stuff\” from the rubber. Try just flowering plants, not stuff you eat. Check google, it will tell you what the vegies pick up, evades me right now, the right word. Thanks.
Jane

Sep 07, 2008

I am trying to find instructions for making tropical bird planters from old tires. Do you know where I can find that?
Guest

Nov 28, 2008

how do I reuse tires when I get 3-4 tires every day?
Doug Proctor

Feb 05, 2009

I have a number of products that are made from waste tires if you are interested give me call.
Rick E

Feb 19, 2009

I am trying to use old tire rubber for a project I\’m doing. I need to make 1/2\” holes in the rubber. Drilling doesn\’t work. How to make the holes? Also, what\’s best for cutting the sidewall rubber?
chevysharon

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Apr 19, 2009

jane go to ehow or just type in how to make a tropical bird tire planter