Rubber Bark™ by the pool

It's beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like summer, which means picnics, parties, and especially pool days. To reconfigure your backyard pool into something inviting (a garden oasis? a serene pool space?) some Rubber Bark™ is surely a necessary ingredient.

Not only does Rubber Bark™ easy to maintain, it is nontoxic, durable, and eco-friendly. Outline the yard with Rubber Bark™ in one of the various vibrant colors available, and it will surely add that boost and charm needed for those lazy summer days with friends.

No pool? No problem. Rubber Bark™ can act as your water oasis replacement with its ocean blue option! Many an outdoor space has been transformed by creating the illusion of the wet stuff with some strategically placed mulch. Check out a few of the photos below to get the idea!

Scrap Tire News on Synthetic Turf Fields

A new edition of Scrap Tire News indicates that, using CalRecycle data, there are virtually no health risks for outdoor fields made of artificial turf. Check out a piece of the article below, and support companies, such as Rubber Bark™, that make products that are not only eco-friendly, but also completely safe.

Playgrounds and Synthetic Turf Fields There have been concerns about the health implications of the use of recycled tire crumb in playgrounds and in synthetic turf athletic fields. In response to these concerns, EPA conducted a Scoping Level Field Monitoring Study of Synthetic Turf Fields and Playgrounds. The final report was issued in 2009 and concluded that on average, concentrations of components monitored in this study were below levels of concern. To supplement this study’s limited data, EPA met with state and local representatives in 2010 to review other available field monitoring studies including a 2010 study conducted by the state of Connecticut which concluded that exposures and risks were not elevated (relative to what is commonly found in outdoor air) for either children or adults using the fields. A 2010 report by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery examined the possible human health risks of outdoor athletic fields made from artificial turf containing recycled crumb rubber with respect to skin abrasions, bacteria harbored by the turf, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. The report concluded these fields do not pose a serious public concern, with the possible exception of an increased skin abrasion rate on artificial turf relative to natural turf. At this point, EPA does not believe that the field monitoring data collected provides evidence of an elevated health risk resulting from the use of recycled tire crumb in playgrounds or in synthetic turf athletic fields. Ultimately, he use of recycled tire crumb or any other playground materials is a state and local decision.

Head's Up! CalRecycle TDP (tire-derived product) Grant Workshop Soon

This is just a head's up from the buzz concerning a few workshops in California about TDP (tire-derived product) grants from CalRecycle.


According to a CalRecycle news spot, CalRecycle will be hosting two workshops concerning the development of the report to the Legislature required by AB 341 (Chesbro) "...that provides strategies to achieve the state's policy goal that not less than 75 percent of solid waste generated be source reduced, recycled, or composted by the year 2020..."


This is a big deal for Rubber Bark™ because it means that more people and public entities will be getting involved in redistributing landfill junk tires into recycled products such as Rubber Bark™! 


Here are the details for the locations of the workshops! 

Northern California:
May 14, 2012, 1:00PM to 4:00PM
Cal/EPA Building Byron Sher Conference Room 2nd Floor
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Southern California:
May 21, 2012 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM
South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium
21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765

New Before & After Project Using Rubber Bark™

Rubber Bark™ just received word from one of our great customers about a months-long backyard project that included putting in some Rubber Bark™ around the yard. Customer Isabella had this to say about her three super sacks of bark she used for the project: 

"We are extremely satisfied with the Rubber Bark. Nothing to maintain and it always looks very nice and clean. We are looking forward to have some more Rubber Bark projects done in the future at the other side of the house and behind the wood fence next to our vegetable garden and even perhaps in the front of the house." 


She also hinted that she wanted to put some colorful sculptures on the Rubber Bark™ to enhance the garden feel, such as a rock river with a wooden bridge or rock/ceramic turtles hanging out on the colorful bark. 

Check out some of the photos below to see the transformation, which started last fall, and was finished up just a couple of weeks ago! 

For more photos of the transformation, go to Rubber Bark's Flickr page! 

 

Happy Earth Day 2012!

Yayyy! It is finally here, one of Rubber Bark's favorite days of the year, Earth Day!

Today, take a moment (preferably more) and thank good ol' Mother Earth for being the surly, unwavering matriarch that she is, and think about ways that you can help her out in her old age.

One way for certain, is the replace that old wood mulch with some Rubber Bark™. Rubber Bark™ keeps millions of tires out of landfills every year, because it is made of 100% scrap tires. We believe in the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra, heck, our company is based around the concept!

Not to spoil the specialness of the day, but every day at Rubber Bark™ is kind of like Earth Day, where we want to empower consumers to make responsible choices in everyday purchases. Getting some Rubber Bark™ is a great first step (or second, or third) on the path to living a more sustainable lifestyle. Plus is looks great, and of course, is safe for the kiddos!

So, happy Earth Day all you buzzers and Rubber Bark™ friends!

NSPX3- "Good vs. Bad Rubber Bark"

We came across this interesting tidbit (and video!) the other day when we were perusing the interwebs for rubber mulch related news and were so excited to see NSPX3 give a shout out to Rubber Bark™!

BAD BARK! 

The company was right in saying that there can be two very different kinds of rubber mulch in playgrounds throughout the country. Some rubber mulch companies can leave in harmful metal from the tires and, once dyed a certain color, can fade rather quickly. Some mulches also let their "true colors" show, with the nylon of the tires left exposed, which may cause skin irritation.

GOOD BARK! 

However, Rubber Bark™guarantees its color will stay true and goes through quite the rigmarole to ensure that no metals or other harmful substances are hiding in the rubber. Plus, Rubber Bark™ has a consistency to it, with its colors, size of the bark, and its texture, that other mulches may overlook.

Rubber Bark's other wonderful products

We spend a lot of time discussing all the benefits of Rubber Bark™ on thee ol' buzz (and there are many!), but because it's April, the month of Earth Day, we want to give a shout out to Rubber Bark's other wonderful products, all of which are just as environmentally friendly as our signature mulch.

Rubber Bark™ is great for animals, but so are Ag Mats, also made of recycled tires, and come in two varieties, flat or pebble top. Horses love these mats, as it protects their hooves against moisture on the ground, and is flexible enough to support their weight.

Then there are the fabulous outdoor tables and benches. They are also made of 100% recycled scrap tires (see a pattern here?) and are made to last at least ten years, as opposed to wood, which can deteriorate due to acclimate weather and use. No staining or preservatives needed, the sturdy outdoor furniture looks great in a community park or small garden.

The last of the recycled tires lot is infill crumb rubber. You may have seen it being used as a part of asphalt for roads, in outdoor tracks for synthetic ground cover, or any of the other numerous ways this durable product can be used. Considered as safe as it gets by the EPA, infill crumb rubber is not only a smart choice, its a eco-conscious one too, as no new resources are being used.

And last, but definitely not least, are Bender Boards. These futuristic landscape liners are made of recycled plastic, and add an aesthetically pleasing look to gardens, yards, edging, and walkways. They are water resistant (which means they won't rot, crack, or splinter!) and can take multiple meetings with lawn mowers and weed whackers.