[USCC] Tire chips

[Scott Reil]

I've heard nothing good on rubber breaking down and plenty of bad news...

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_fil
es/Myths/Rubber%20mulch.pdf

Chemicals from the vulcanization process can include:

Sulfur - cross-linking agent
Zinc Oxide - activator
Zinc Dibutyldithiocarbamate - accelerator
Zinc Diethyldithiocarbamate - accelerator
Zinc Mercaptobenzothiazole - accelerator
Titanium Dioxide - whitening pigment
Calcium Carbonate - anti-tack agent
Calcium Nitrate - coagulant
Corn Starch - donning agent
Potassium Hydroxide - pH stabilizer
Anti-oxidants, anti-foaming agents, anti-webbing agents, surfactants, color
pigments, flavoring compounds, fragrance
and other additives used are mixtures of compounds that are proprietary
knowledge and rights of the various brand
owners and may not be disclosed here.

I find the inclusion of carbamates to be particularly notable as they are
getting as lot of bad press as pesticides (nerve agents). As noted in the
above article, as much as 2% of the tire mass can be zinc, a lot higher than
the 4-6 ppm we like to see in soils...not a good idea from where I sit AT
ALL...


Scott Reil
Safe Lawns and Landscapes LLC
70 Highland Park Drive
Bloomfield CT 06002
860-243-8733



-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of John P Kelly
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 3:20 PM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: [USCC] Tire chips

Composters:

I am interested in hearing from composters who have experience with tire
chips as an alternative bulking agent.

John Kelly
New England Organics
Director of Product Sales
135 Presumpscot Street, Unit 1
Portland, ME  04103
1-877-4-COMPOST
207-347-3605
207-781-5794 fax
207-650-5010 cell
www.earthlifegrows.com