Mini Sand Cars

Last year the EU banned the burial of the Directive has almost all the tires in landfills. So what can you do with old car tires?

For experts like Tyre Merityre pay £ 1 to ensure that all used tires are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. And when they have more than 200,000 to get rid of money every year is really starting to accumulate.

Nationally, tire retailers, garages and vehicle dismantlers collect over 40 million tires per year. 12% of them are reused after having a new tread applied. More innovative uses include creating defenses against flooding. Others are recycled and used for products such as carpet underlay or road surfaces. An emerging market is the recovery of energy. It is hoped that the tires could partly replace coal as an energy source for many industries.

There are ways we can reuse car tires at home rather than sending them to specialist disposal companies. Here are 10 great ideas:

1. Raised beds
Car tires are ideal for creating a high bed for planting flowers, herbs or vegetable. A single tire works well for lettuce and herbs. Use two or three tires to grow potatoes.

Paint the car tire bright colors to create a wonderful display when planting flowers.

2. Resoling Shoes
Use the rubber tire car resole shoes. It is very resistant to wear.

Or add a piece of leather and create a pair of sandals or flip flops.

3. Car Tyre Swing
Most people have memories of playing on a tire swing when they were young.

Just use a strong rope and securely attach the car tire to a sturdy tree branch for hours of fun.

4. Bumper Boats
Boat owners can attach the car tires on the sides of the boat to act as protective bumpers. Very useful when docking a boat.

5. Kindergarten
Rather than spend a fortune on equipment from a garden center, use a little imagination, some old wooden planks and a bit of car tires to create an ideal playground for children.

6. Forcing rhubarb
Forcing Rhubarb (growing rhubarb in the dark) has been practiced since the early 19th century. It produces vibrant pink rhubarb that is far more delicate in flavor than the usual variety.

Place two or three car tires around the plant just before it starts to emerge from the ground. Cover the tires with a piece of wood to create a warm and dark. From December to the end of March you will enjoy delicious and fresh rhubarb beginning.

7. Sand
tractor tires are large perfect for a sandbox for children. Just buy the special sand from a garden center and fill the tire.

8. Mini Greenhouse
Cover the car tire with a piece of clear polythene to create a mini greenhouse or propagator. The thick rubber wall of tire is an excellent insulation to create a warm environment to germinate seeds.

9. Table
Place a piece of wood flat on the top two or three tires for an easy to assemble table, suitable for indoors or outdoors. Paint the tires for better effect.

10. Compost or Wormery
Three or four tires stacked to create a simple composter. The warm atmosphere created by the tires of a car will make short work of composting kitchen waste and cutting grass. Access the compost by removing a tire on both the top.

Ask your local garage for old car tires. Not only will you help available, you will reuse a non biodegradable product in a manner respectful of the environment.

Car Tires may be essential when driving a vehicle, but they are also extremely useful around the house and garden.