Any experience with "recycled tire" mulch?

In an effort to control long term costs, we are looking at the feasibility of using "recycled tire" mulch instead of the pine straw and hardwood mulch around our shrubs and trees. In researching sites other than those that sell the mulch (and therefor proclaim it's merits) there is a certain concern about zinc leaching, and it's effects on plants (and maybe even ground water?) Where as on the surface it seems like a wonderful thing : last longer, retains color, recycling,cost effective over the long run - there are also the negatives: zinc leaching, metal particles from steel belts, initial odor etc.

Does anyone have any experience - negative or positive - with this material? Do you have any info (based on research rather than gut) about the safety and ecological responsibility of using this product?

MArianne,
Go to "Googl-" and type in M.S.D.S, which is Materials Safety Data Sheets and find the tire mulch tests. I personally would not use it because the long term effects are not documented yet and I try to be a "green" person. And it is very costly, where natural mulch makes great soild after it decomposes.

Our HOA has a park/beach area that gets year round use. We had constant complaints and constant incidents with the wood mulch that caused us to look to alternatives. We (board members)decided after many complaints, we should try the rubberized mulch or some version of the product, so we went to various sights with playscapes in our area and viewed ALL the different types of ground cover that was available and being used. There were solid forms (puzzle fitting pieces) made of the rubberized recycled material in a variety of colors for handicaped play areas and we saw many a child old and young hit the surfaces and bounce back up, some of us even fell down/pushed each other down, or jumped off the swings and rolled on the surfaces, to test it. (provided you follow the depth and set up procedures for the proper placement within your play area). It has a great feeling even in the warm summer sun, we were conviced. The hardest part was all the prep work we (board members, remember I said we were a small HOA) volunteered to do to get rid of the old mulch and dig out the play area for the correct depth and material for the underlayment. We would never go back to the old pea gravel or wood mulch, too much work loosening up the mulch constantly (every couple weeks) and we have many other associations coming by to look, test and cost out the product for their park play area.

We changed our entire play area to the rubberized mulch (pellets) over three years ago and have had no regrets since then, except the initial COSTS (hard labor and money). But in the long run, we feel the safety factor and the low maintenance makes up for the difference. We are not a large HOA, so for us it was a BIG expense, but it works all year in our climate. I know how many happy faces on the parents and many of our children are because of no more splinters and it has a great bounce when you walk on it , no matter the time of year.

Our HOA checked out the claims for possible chemical contamination but found NO valid articles. We found many articles about mold and allergy problems with wood mulch in play areas, and it's breaking down and composting within the play area over the years, that we were not fully aware of before we planned to replace the wood mulch. It was very enlightening for ALL our members and most of our board.

Good Luck, whatever your choice!

Marianne:

The only complaint I received about it was the smell that eminates from the rubber mulch. Many Cities use it in their playgrounds because of the life long wear on it.