How is rubber mulch made

Wood chips and pea gravel infill became typical sights at playgrounds. But over the years, recycled tire rubber -- both shredded and ground into round pieces -- has become popular.

No official count of playgrounds with recycled tire infill exists, but state grant programs, federal efforts to promote tire infill and effective marketing by manufacturers have made ground rubber one of the most-recommended surfaces on the market today. Michael Blumenthal, former vice president of the Rubber Manufacturers Association and now an independent consultant for the industry, said that studies have shown tire infill to have higher impact attenuation than other surfaces, such as pea gravel.

Consumers, like town officials in Bandon, like rubber infill for various reasons. Some states, in an effort to recycle and repurpose old tires, incentivize the material. Kentucky, one of several states that give grants to municipalities, school districts and other entities to use crumb rubber, has funded rubber-filled playgrounds since its program began in Federal and independent safety manuals, Hampton added, all point to rubber mulch as a safe surface for playgrounds.

Parents interviewed in Bandon, Oregon, and others from around the country who wrote to NBC News gave similar testimonies about their young children putting tire in their mouths, and ending up covered in black after playing on playgrounds filled with tire crumb. Alisa O'Brien, a grandmother and a registered nurse from Ft. Myers, Florida, had the same concerns as other caregivers. According to the EPA, benzene, mercury, styrene-butadiene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and arsenic, among several other chemicals, heavy metals and carcinogens, have been found in tires.

Studies have found that crumb rubber can emit gases that can be inhaled. A previous investigation by NBC News found that while many studies concluded that the crumb rubber in artificial turf fields did not present acute health risks, they often added the caveat that more research should be conducted. When the group of parents approached the town with their research, Hampton said she and other concerned officials also set out to learn more about the rubber.

There is not one study, he said, that attempts to measure the effects that long-term, repeated exposure to tire shreds or ground rubber could have on young children. While the International Agency for Research on Cancer says that, at low levels of exposure, carcinogenic chemicals are safe, Landrigan said the repeated exposure of children to such carcinogens and chemicals put them at greater risk than adults, even at low levels.

Behavioral traits unique to children, like putting things in their mouths, increase their risk of exposure. They breathe, eat and drink more relative to their body weight than adults. They also have many more years of life in which to develop disease triggered by early exposure to a carcinogen. Several substances found in tires are concerning, Landrigan added. It can cause injury to the brain and nerves. Related Stories. Disney prepares to move large, mature trees. Startup creates buzz with unique delivery system: bees.

Top Stories. Landscaper Profiles. Top 7 issues you might find while hanging holiday lights. Reservations open for the Scythe M. Hitachi introduces new ZW wheel loader. The Attachments Idea Book. Landscapers use a variety of attachments for doing everything from snow removal to jobsite cleanup, and regardless of how often they are used, every landscaper has a favorite attachment. White Papers. Get our eBook now. Download View All. Rubber mulch offers more protection for kids and is a much better option than things like sand and wood chips.

But do you know how rubber mulch is actually made? Keep reading to find out the process that plays out as rubber mulch is manufactured. Rubber mulch is made by recycling old rubber tires. From tiny tires from toys to gigantic tires from trucks, just about any kind of rubber tire can be used to make rubber mulch.

It keeps tires out of landfills and gives them a second life as mulch.