Video about recycling tires into mulch!

The Best Ways to Recycle Tires -- powered by eHow.com

Update about grants

As most of you may know, the time to start applying for CalRecycle's grants have been pushed back from October to the middle of November. (UPDATE: the application start time has been pushed back from today to another two weeks by CalRecycle. We at the buzz will keep you posted on further changes- Eds.) So if you have a project in mind, the time is now! We have a great staff at Rubber Bark™ willing to help potential projects with filling out the application and crunching numbers. Here is a new, improved press release about the grants and Rubber Bark™:

CalRecycle Tire-Derived Product Grants Available Mid-November 

BALLICO, CA (November 10, 2010) — In an effort to promote the use of products made from California’s millions of waste tires, The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is now offering grants through its Tire-Derived Product (TDP) program for public entity projects.

Rubber Bark™ works closely with CalRecycle and supports the use of the grants for public projects, which in turn build sustainable market demand. Ag Link, Inc., the company that makes Rubber Bark™, is dedicated to helping entities develop successful projects through project planning and assistance with the grant application itself, which will be due in January of next year.

To be eligible for a grant the grantee must be a public entity, such as a city, county, or public school (full list available online). Approved projects are granted 100 percent financial reimbursement to buy Rubber Bark™ and/or other tire-derived products for their project. 

Projects may include updating a school’s playground, creating an outside community area in a housing development, or renovating existing landscape.  Eligibility and grant criteria can be found at www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Tires/Grants/Product/default.htm

“CalRecycle’s grants give public entities the chance to implement facilities improvement projects that may otherwise be stalled or postponed in this difficult economy,” Rubber Bark™ CEO Jana Nairn said. 

“The simple, straight forward grant application usually results in 100 percent reimbursement of a tire derived product like, Rubber Bark™.”

For more information about Rubber Bark™ and the grants available by CalRecycle go to www.rubberbark.com.  

Video about rubber mulch

Here is another video from HGTV talking about some of the advantages of rubber mulch. We are glad they mention something that is usually overlooked by contractors and landscape TV hosts, which is that it is good for the environment. Way to go Chip Wade and Jamie Durie!

Rubber mulch as art

Sometimes we like to scope the interwebs for cool stuff going on with the recycled rubber industry. Although we come across a lot of things, we never thought we would come across rubber mulch being used for projects other than intended purposes, but if there is a will, there is a way.

Check out this facebook video of a rubber mulch art sculpture.

Come to think of it, rubber mulch is a great art medium, as it is easy to transport, malleable, and can be used as part of the "recycled art" phenomenon currently taking place, in which all materials for art projects are found objects or reused.

Why Rubber Bark™ is important for fall and winter mulching

Autumn is definitely upon us, and as the leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground, its important to remember your landscape's health and vitality now for the upcoming spring. Most people agree that mulching is one of the best ways to keep soil fresh and plants happy in the cold seasons. And while mulch made of wood, newspaper and other natural fibers will certainly get the job done (but are known to leak nitrogen from the soil), it behooves the thoughtful landscaper to ponder a little deeper, and chose a product that will get the job done well. 


To say it plainly, Rubber Bark™ simply holds its place better and longer than other mulches. It doesn't deteriorate over time or due to adverse weather and/or flooding. A downpour can be great for your plants, but it certainly isn't good for the staying power of your wood mulch. With Rubber Bark™ there are no worries about longevity. It's made to last for as many seasons as you want it. It retains its vibrant color and is heavy enough to stay in its area.

In freezing climates, winter mulching serves an even greater purpose than keeping the yard looking nice. According to Professor Perry at the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science in an article entitled "Mulch to Prevent Winter Injury,"

Mulch is a standard form of winter protection for many shallow-rooted plants.  While in summer it is effective in retaining soil moisture, preventing erosion, and controlling weeds, in winter it acts as insulation for the soil and plant roots.

Failure to mulch landscape plants and evergreen shrubs may lead to serious winter root injury.  Alternate thawing and freezing of unmulched soil as temperatures warm during the day and drop at night may cause frost heaving in the spring.  Freezing and thawing occurs mainly in the fall and spring, and in fall may keep perennials from hardening properly or cause injury to unhardened plants.

Professor Perry recommends a two to three inch layer of winter mulch. Late October to early November is also the best time to start the winter vegetable garden, however winter vegetables are particularly susceptible to the onslaught of moisture depleting weeds, thus another important reason for winter mulching. The best crops for a great winter garden with protection from mulch include beets, carrots, onions, parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips.


We will be updating more about tips for the cold season, until then happy fall mulching and gardening! 

PBS coming soon!

We are getting really excited about PBS's Curiosity Quest Goes Green coming to film at our Ballico facility on October 27th that we thought we would regale our blog readers with more clips and info about our former spots in the well, spotlight.

Here is a link to a good little video about rubber mulch and the vibrancy of its colors on HGTV.

Also, here is a clip from Yardcrashers featuring Rubber Bark™ being used for a play area, and the cutest little kid saying, "I'm ok, cause this stuff is rubber!" after he falls off his swing.

CalRecycle offering grants for public entities!

Great news on the recycled tire front: CalRecycle, one of our favorite government organizations, is offering grants to fund a tire-derived product for public entities, private schools (with additional qualifications) and Community Housing Development Organizations throughout California. This includes Native American tribes, park districts, and public universities.  We would love to see one of these entities get a grant, as a lot of them are the ones that need it most. However, we believe any entity (a full list can be seen here) can make great use of these grants, especially using Rubber Bark™ :).

A few qualifications include:

• Products must be made from 100 percent recycled California waste tires

• Products must be "new," as in never before received CalRecyle funding

•Projects must divert a minimum of 2,500 California tires per project

The grants are available to apply for on October 27th and will be awarded in the spring of next year. For more information, go to CalRecycle's page about the grants. Good luck!