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  • From: "Scott Pittman" <scott@permaculture.org>
  • To: "'permaculture'" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Highest use for tires?
  • Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 08:22:13 -0800

Cadmium is used in the vulcanization process of tires and outgases over
time. Cadmium is carcinogenic and should not be used in closed areas like
houses. It is a radioactive substance which has been little studied as far
as the effects from tires.

Scott Pittman

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
~Arundhati Roy

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of John D'hondt
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:54 AM
To: permaculture
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Highest use for tires?


As far as I remember the major problem with tires is Zink (Zn) which has
been added to the rubber. Plants are quite sensitive to soils with lots of
zink in it and will show that dislike by growing poorly. I have never
noticed that with tires so I assume that Zn leaching is not high. Zink is
not bad for humans in concentrations higher than the tires release.
However there is another problem. Even if the tire manufacturers would have
wanted to put pure zink in their rubber this would have been difficult
because it is nearly impossible to separate all cadmium out. Cadmium is very

hard to separate from zink and that seems to even be the case in food
supplement zink.
Then again, if not much zink is leaching out then the amount of cadmium
would probably be minute.
I would never make soup from rubber tires but as long as the plants grown in

them look good I would feel quite safe to use them. I think there are much
worse dangers out there (like chemtrails maybe).
john


Hm, burdock root is an interesting idea I would not have thought of. I am
trying to take a look at some of the research out there on toxicity, have
not found much thus far. How long do they off gas? What do they off
gas/leach? What remedies? I wish there were more waste stream experts in
permaculture or at least hooked up to it. We need to be able to handle and
design with this stuff in mind - it is such a huge part of our environment.
We can say that they are too toxic for us, but they are here - they're going

somewhere. There is no "away", so we need to do something with them, and the

more we understand what our options are, the better choices we'll make. I
hear you on covering them with earth, that is my predilection as well. I'm
sure there are some people into this out there that I don't know about!
Trying to flush them out here :-)


________________________________
From: Neil Bertrando <neilbertrando@gmail.com>
To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Highest use for tires?

I'm with Lawrence in that they exude toxins. perhaps a large mycelium
layer cake which is innoculated with Oyster mushrooms. definitely test any
produce for heavy metals.

I prefer not to use them if I don't have to. If I had to, I would look at
options like windbreak fences with innoculated woodchip foundation to
sponge up and metabolize any leachate and perhaps even woodchip filling and
covering to keep them from collecting water and breeding misquitos.

other than that, something that immobilizes them away from water and UV
sunlight (similar to an earthship) would be on my list (inside a cob wall?)
all of these are fairly labor intensive, but if you have to use
them...what is the cost balance with paying to get rid of them?

this is purely ideas, no direct research or literature refs.

cheers,
Neil

On Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 8:23 AM, venaurafarm
<venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>wrote:

> On 11/7/2012 10:45 AM, Cory Brennan wrote:
> > I have an opportunity to repurpose quite a few tires and am looking
> > for any and all data on the highest use for that particular
> > commodity, besides earthships (which I am familiar with, I'm
> > researching other options as well). Who do list members know that
> > would be the most knowledgeable about this? What experiences do you
> > have with repurposing tires?
>
> I always thought they exuded toxic substances. If not then an excellent
> use would be to grow burdock root in them. Stack them 2 to 5 high
> depending on size of tire, fill them with dirt. Plant the burdock SEEDS
> in them. When ready for harvet just take a prybar and separate the
> tires, empty the dirt in them and pull the roots out completely without
> breaking them. Wild grown burdock (the wild variety) has high economic
> value. t can become a staple in anyone's dirt, tastes good and is highly
> nutritional.
>
> LL
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