The rubber mulch debate
Ok, so there really hasn’t been all that much debate about it, but it’s a product I myself have been debating on whether I should get or not, so here’s the pros and cons as I see them
Of course the first thing to think about is the fact that it’s good to see old tires being re-used rather than just being tossed in the landfill to sit and not decompose for years, but this stuff really isn’t very cheap. It generally seems to come in bags that only contain about .5cubic feet of material, and costs about three to four times as much as a bag of regular mulch. Wow, that’s pricy!
Another factor to consider – this stuff isn’t going to break down any time soon. Now, that’s great if your planning on using it around a playset or such (which is what I have been debating using it for), but not so good in natural areas that you may change around occasionally. Also, what do you do if you ever decide you don’t need that playset any more? (yes, the kids will eventually grow up I’m afraid) All of that rubber mulch will still be there, looking pretty much the same as the day you bought it, well, except the color may have faded a little.
Of course it’s not all bad and it would be unfair to say it is, rubber mulch does have some very positive aspects.
Take the playground scenario for example, it sure is nice to have rubber under it for a nice cushy landing, and for that purpose rubber mulch really can’t be beaten.
Of course as I already mentioned it is good to see something being re-used rather than just tossed out. It’s always a good thing to see stuff being recycled!
Also, because of the nature of the product, you can get some wild colors such as bright reds and yellows, as well as the usual browns and blacks, and the color tends to hold up pretty good on them. Of course I personally wouldn’t want my natural areas to have bright yellow mulch in them, but it does look good in some situations!
Now, there has been some “discussion” about whether rubber mulch gives off toxic fumes or not, and also if it leaches zinc and lead into the surrounding soil (and into ground water supplies) leading to the death of plants and the contamination of drinking water, and the jury is still out on that, but do keep in mind that whenever tires are disposed off any other time they are considered to be hazardous materials.
So, what’s my conclusion? Honestly, I’m even more confused about the issue than I was before I started doing a bit of research on the subject. I think my kid might have to just put up with dirt under his swings for just a little while longer, until dad makes up his mind!
