City dwellers like myself know how tree roots damage concrete sidewalks. Every pedestrian I know has tripped at one point on a cracked, uplifted section of sidewalk. Not only is this dangerous and unsightly, but the repairs are a constant drain in maintenance costs. Now the city of Boston is considering going with Rubber Sidewalks—modular sidewalk pieces made from discarded rubber tires. Not only are sidewalks made from rubber stronger and easier to repair, they are a shining example of the reusable product movement we like so much here at BobVila.com. Rubbersidewalks are made entirely from discarded tire rubber, making use of material normally destined for landfills where they’ll sit for hundreds of years. According to their website, 400 square feet of rubbersidewalks keeps over two tons of discarded tire rubber from going into a landfill. Rubbersidewalks can also be lifted when tree roots become problematic, allowing for simple root trimming. Available for municipal and residential applications, Rubbersidewalks fit together with a simple pegging system. They currently cost about a third more than conventional sidewalks to install, but save money in repair costs, preserve tree growth, look great, and recycle a material that normally clogs landfills. Exact costs vary due to shipping (the company operates out of California and is building another plant in New York) but you can contact Rubbersidewalks.Inc directly for a quote. Think of the joggers who will thank you!
Rubber Sidewalks
