| Last year an EU Landfill Directive banned the disposal | | | | Rather than spending a fortune on equipment from a |
| of almost all tyres in landfill sites. So what can you do | | | | garden centre, use a little imagination, some old |
| with old car tyres? | | | | wooden planks and a few car tyres to create a |
| Car Tyre specialists like Merityre pay over a | | | | great adventure playground for the children. |
| £1 to ensure every used tyre is disposed of in | | | | 6. Forcing Rhubarb |
| an environmentally friendly manner. And when they | | | | Forcing Rhubarb (growing rhubarb in dark conditions) |
| have over 200,000 to get rid off each year the | | | | has been practised since the early 19th century. It |
| money really starts to add up. | | | | produces vibrant pink rhubarb that is far more |
| Nationally, tyre retailers, garages and vehicle | | | | delicate in flavour than the usual variety. |
| dismantlers collect over 40 million tyres a year. 12% | | | | Place two or three car tyres around the plant just |
| of these are reused after having a new tread applied. | | | | before it starts emerging from the ground. Cover the |
| More innovative uses include creating flood defenses. | | | | tyres with a piece of wood to create a warm, dark |
| Others are recycled and used for products such as | | | | environment. From December to the end of March |
| carpet underlay or road surfaces. An emerging | | | | you will be enjoying succulent and sweet early |
| market is energy recovery. It is hoped that tyres | | | | rhubarb. |
| could partly replace coal as fuel source for many | | | | 7. Sand Pits |
| industries. | | | | Large tractor tyres are perfect for making a sandpit |
| There are ways we can reuse car tyres at home | | | | for the children. Just buy the special sand from a |
| rather than sending them to specialist disposal | | | | garden centre and fill the tyre. |
| companies. Here are 10 great ideas: | | | | 8. Mini Greenhouse |
| 1. Raised Beds | | | | Cover the car tyre with a piece of clear polythene to |
| Car tyres are ideal for creating a raised bed for | | | | create a mini greenhouse or propagator. The thick |
| planting flowers, herbs or vegetables. A single tyre | | | | rubber wall of the tyre is excellent insulation for |
| works well for lettuce and herbs. Use two or three | | | | creating a warm environment to germinate seeds. |
| tyres to grow potatoes. | | | | 9. Table |
| Paint the car tyre bright colours to create a | | | | Place a flat piece of wood on top of two or three |
| wonderful display when planting flowers. | | | | tyres for an easy to assemble table, suitable for the |
| 2. Resoling Shoes | | | | indoors or outside. Paint the tyres for a better |
| Use the rubber from the car tyre to resole shoes. It | | | | effect. |
| is very hard wearing. | | | | 10. Composter or Wormery |
| Alternatively add a piece of leather and create a pair | | | | Three or four tyres stacked together create a |
| of sandals or flip flops. | | | | simple composter. The warm environment created by |
| 3. Car Tyre Swing | | | | the car tyres will make short work of composting |
| Most people have memories of playing on a tyre | | | | kitchen waste and grass clipping. Access the compost |
| swing when they were young. | | | | by removing one tyre at a time from the top. |
| Just use some strong rope and securely attach the | | | | Ask your local garage for old car tyres. Not only will |
| car tyre to a sturdy tree branch for hours of fun. | | | | you be helping them with disposal, you will reuse a |
| 4. Boat Bumper | | | | non biodegradable product in an environmentally |
| Boat owners can attach the car tyres to the boat's | | | | friendly fashion. |
| sides, to act as protective bumpers. Very useful | | | | Car tyres maybe essential when driving a vehicle but |
| when docking a boat. | | | | they are also extremely useful around the home and |
| 5. Children's Playground | | | | garden. |