How to Reuse Those Old Tires
by GLI Editors in Green Resources, Reuse, Waste Reduction
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.
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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.9 Responses to “How to Reuse Those Old Tires”
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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
mybeaglebuddy
Mar 12, 2010
I’d like to make some dog agility equipment out of old tires and have plans on how to do it. The equipment would be placed in our community dog park. A family member has expressed concern that the tires might be hazardous for the ground if they are partly buried and leach toxins into the ground after being exposed to the elements for a long period of time. Could this happen? If so, any way to coat or seal the tire so this doesn’t happen? Thanks for your help!
Jason
Jul 05, 2010
Adressing some concerns about toxins in used tires here: Zinc is used in the vulcanizing process (when a tire is first made), and does leech out of NEW tires. The amount of zinc that can leech out of used-up tires is minimal, and not likely to pose any health hazard. Tire mulch, on the other hand, has vulcanized rubber surfaces that have not had the opportunity to leech out, and will put a fair amount of the metal. If one is still experiencing paranoia over heavy metals, plant some jimpson weed alongside your vegetables, as the plant will greedily soak up any heavy metals in the soil. Do NOT consume the jimpson weed.
Some people in warm climates have found that potatos dont produce well in tire stacks, and here’s why: When soil temperatures exceed 80 degrees or so, the tubers wont form. In order to prevent this problem, try painting the outsides of the tires a light color, and/or use straw instead of soil to cover your plants on the second, third, and fourth tires.