Master Gardener project diverts thousands of tires from California landfills

 

Recycled tire mulch and pavers.

California has more registered vehicles than any other state in the nation. From those vehicles come approximately 40.2 million reusable and waste tires every year. About 1.5 million waste tires are already stockpiled throughout the state, posing a health and safety risk for the public. Stockpiled tires can be a fire hazard and can collect rainwater that serves as a breeding ground for mosquitos.

Currently, the recycling markets in California do not consume all of the state's waste tires. As the use of tires as feedstock material in commercial applications increases, illegal stockpiling and the need for permitted storage of waste tires will decrease or cease to exist.

 

 
Grant funding from California's Integrated Waste Management Board allowed thousands of the county’s own tires to be recycled and installed by volunteer Master Gardeners in their teaching garden as mulch and pavers. This collaborative effort between the Calaveras County Environmental Health Department and UCCE Master Gardeners in Calaveras County used more than 5,950 recycled tires as mulch and 2,400 recycled tires on pathways.

Master Gardeners hope to promote public awareness and open up markets for use of waste tires so even more than the 8,350 tires used in the Master Garden demonstration project can be diverted from California landfills.

Many of the hundreds of people visiting the garden have already come to understand the benefits of using this material as mulch and ground cover. Use of recycled rubber products has helped with weed abatement, water conservation, handicapped/wheelchair accessibility and safety in the garden.
 

 
As a result of this Master Gardener project and their showcasing efforts, more than 20,000 residents have learned about recycled tire products from stories in newspapers and on community television. This has resulted in local elementary schools and private individuals in Calaveras County incorporating used tire products into their sustainable landscapes to control weeds, conserve water, eliminate yearly mulch replacement and as a safety feature in playgrounds.

There has been demonstrated increased awareness of this recycling opportunity, a change in behavior and a reduction in inappropriate disposal of used tires. Each used tire diverted from the waste stream saves taxpayers $8 and benefits the environment.
 

 
“The demonstration garden is a highly visible and accessible venue and we value the Master Gardeners’ efforts in educating the public about safe and smart recycling of the rubber tire products.” - Brian Moss, Director of Calaveras County’s Environmental Health Department
 

Supporting Unit: Calaveras County UCCE
 
Ken R. Churches, (209) 754-6475, cdcalaveras@ucdavis.edu