Recycled Pavers – Are Recycled Rubber and Concrete Pavers for You?
Recycled pavers are most commonly used as substitutes for concrete or asphalt sidewalks. These paving stones are now made to look more closely like concrete in their appearance and hardness, and they are slip resistant and shock absorbent. According to Rubbersidewalks Inc., a California company, one square foot of the pavers salvages waste rubber from one commuter tire, and each twenty square-foot installation saves one tree from removal. So, are recycled pavers worth the investment in time, energy and money?
Ask these questions to find out…
Top Three Questions to Discovering if Recycled Pavers are for You
- Do you want to breathe clean air?
Tires are banned from landfills and dump sites. In some cases the only way to get rid of the tires is by burning them releasing chemicals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, benzene, dioxins and many more poisonous and carcinogenic substances. It’s much safer to grind the tires into crumbs and form them into big rubber strips for urban sidewalks and flooring, or into brick-like pavers for ornamental patios and footpaths.
- Do you want to help conserve resources?
Recycled pavers are more than just useful; they’re environmentally responsible, they help to conserve energy, and they add a funky new look to homes and communities. The heavy-duty materials old tires are made from are intrinsically stronger and more durable under stress. You will be able to shape the pavers to fit any kind of backyard or deck, since they can be cut easily.
- Do you want a project that you can do yourself?
Besides old rubber tires, recycled pavers can also come from broken down concrete. You can collect the concrete from a building or masonry that’s being demolished. Using a shovel, dig a hole about three inches deep, leaving one inch around each piece of concrete. Place a weed mulch barrier, add sand, and you can lay your recycled concrete paver!