A Tiring Problem Solved
Here's an absolutely great idea out of California that should be phased into use in every city, everywhere.
Richard Caleriano, Public Works Inspector for the city of Santa Monica, gets the credit for coming up with the idea of rubber sidewalks. Made of 100% recycled tire rubber (11 lbs/square foot, an average passenger tire) have now been installed in more than 60 cities and are available for municipal and private use. There are apparently an approximate 30 more cities preparing to lay down some rubber in 2007.
"The resources of the earth are limited. Recycling is limited only by our imagination and effort.", proclaims the website of RUBBERSIDEWALKS.INC. They're right, so you have to wonder why there are only 30 cities lining up to take advantage of this terrific idea.
Initial cost of the rubber sidewalks is approximately one-third higher than concrete, so you know that will be enough to deter those incapable of seeing anything more than the short-term. For those willing to investigate past that stumbling block, they will find that the new sidewalks can last more than twice as long as concrete walkways laid near trees, where invasive root systems can lift up concrete, necessitating the whole sidewalk's demolition and replacement. Rubber sidewalks can be repaired.
The rubber version also offers more than one environmental advantage. Like concrete, rubber pavers warm up in sunlight, but they reach a lower temperature than concrete does, and they retain less heat. Might this help absolve them of any blame in regard to global warming?
Another advantage can best be seen from up close - really close - like when you've taken a fall on one. Though they are just as hard and durable as concrete walks, rubbers are more resilient, so they provide a fall that is just a little less likely to injure than their concrete counterparts do.
The makers of rubber sidewalks promote their product as a saviour of the urban forest. Because tree roots can lift concrete, "problem trees" are likely to be cut down, but rubber pavers can be lifted for tree root trimming and then replaced, allowing the tree to retain its place in the sun without damage to its health or to the municipal budget.
Each five square feet of Rubbersidewalks keeps five tires out of landfill. Ontario's tire stats are nothing to be proud of, since we throw out nearly 13 million car and truck tires each year and half or more end up in dumps. The ministry of the environment currently estimates there to be five million tires stockpiled in various locations throughout the province. One place you'll find approximately 340,000 of them is in a site near London, in southwest Middlesex.
Anyone who lives near one of these sites has to deal with the ongoing concern that there might be a repeat of the Hagersville fire. In that environmental disaster, fire broke out on February 12th, 1990, and burned for 17 days. It was fuelled by 12.6 million tires stockpiled there, and was responsible for 1,700 people living within a four kilometre (2.4 mile radius) of the dump being evacuated for the duration of the fire. 25 people had their water supply contaminated for a three month time-span. Liquid residue containing such pollutants as benzene, toluene, and styrene contaminated 4.5 hectares (10.8 acres) of land. Between 12,000 to 15,000 litres (2,250 to 3,375 gallons) of oil are estimated to have made their way into the water table.
What is there to prevent another Hagersville? Maybe contacting the good folks at Rubbersidewalks might be a good idea for Premier McGuinty to consider. If they opened a facility here, it would benefit so many in so many ways. The dump sites currently filled with tires would gradually be cleaned up, and a lot of local people could find employment in the doing. The ground water would be safer and so would our urban trees, as well as the good Premier himself. Wouldn't all those who voted him into office feel better just knowing that if he took a fall on the sidewalk outside his office, he'd be much less likely to hurt his little self on a rubber walk?
If you're still with me after all the above, I'm going to guess you might just be a reader who would care enough to take my next suggestion to heart. Why not take a few minutes to contact the minister of the environment and say, "hey! how about laying down a little rubber?" It might do some good. If you feel inspired, here's how:
To write to the Minister of the Environment:
The Honourable Laurel C. Broten
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
E-mail the Minister of the Environment at : http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/forms/email-form.php
Telephone at : (416) 314-6790
Fax at : (416) 314-7337
Richard Caleriano, Public Works Inspector for the city of Santa Monica, gets the credit for coming up with the idea of rubber sidewalks. Made of 100% recycled tire rubber (11 lbs/square foot, an average passenger tire) have now been installed in more than 60 cities and are available for municipal and private use. There are apparently an approximate 30 more cities preparing to lay down some rubber in 2007.
"The resources of the earth are limited. Recycling is limited only by our imagination and effort.", proclaims the website of RUBBERSIDEWALKS.INC. They're right, so you have to wonder why there are only 30 cities lining up to take advantage of this terrific idea.
Initial cost of the rubber sidewalks is approximately one-third higher than concrete, so you know that will be enough to deter those incapable of seeing anything more than the short-term. For those willing to investigate past that stumbling block, they will find that the new sidewalks can last more than twice as long as concrete walkways laid near trees, where invasive root systems can lift up concrete, necessitating the whole sidewalk's demolition and replacement. Rubber sidewalks can be repaired.
The rubber version also offers more than one environmental advantage. Like concrete, rubber pavers warm up in sunlight, but they reach a lower temperature than concrete does, and they retain less heat. Might this help absolve them of any blame in regard to global warming?
Another advantage can best be seen from up close - really close - like when you've taken a fall on one. Though they are just as hard and durable as concrete walks, rubbers are more resilient, so they provide a fall that is just a little less likely to injure than their concrete counterparts do.
The makers of rubber sidewalks promote their product as a saviour of the urban forest. Because tree roots can lift concrete, "problem trees" are likely to be cut down, but rubber pavers can be lifted for tree root trimming and then replaced, allowing the tree to retain its place in the sun without damage to its health or to the municipal budget.
Each five square feet of Rubbersidewalks keeps five tires out of landfill. Ontario's tire stats are nothing to be proud of, since we throw out nearly 13 million car and truck tires each year and half or more end up in dumps. The ministry of the environment currently estimates there to be five million tires stockpiled in various locations throughout the province. One place you'll find approximately 340,000 of them is in a site near London, in southwest Middlesex.
Anyone who lives near one of these sites has to deal with the ongoing concern that there might be a repeat of the Hagersville fire. In that environmental disaster, fire broke out on February 12th, 1990, and burned for 17 days. It was fuelled by 12.6 million tires stockpiled there, and was responsible for 1,700 people living within a four kilometre (2.4 mile radius) of the dump being evacuated for the duration of the fire. 25 people had their water supply contaminated for a three month time-span. Liquid residue containing such pollutants as benzene, toluene, and styrene contaminated 4.5 hectares (10.8 acres) of land. Between 12,000 to 15,000 litres (2,250 to 3,375 gallons) of oil are estimated to have made their way into the water table.
What is there to prevent another Hagersville? Maybe contacting the good folks at Rubbersidewalks might be a good idea for Premier McGuinty to consider. If they opened a facility here, it would benefit so many in so many ways. The dump sites currently filled with tires would gradually be cleaned up, and a lot of local people could find employment in the doing. The ground water would be safer and so would our urban trees, as well as the good Premier himself. Wouldn't all those who voted him into office feel better just knowing that if he took a fall on the sidewalk outside his office, he'd be much less likely to hurt his little self on a rubber walk?
If you're still with me after all the above, I'm going to guess you might just be a reader who would care enough to take my next suggestion to heart. Why not take a few minutes to contact the minister of the environment and say, "hey! how about laying down a little rubber?" It might do some good. If you feel inspired, here's how:
To write to the Minister of the Environment:
The Honourable Laurel C. Broten
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
E-mail the Minister of the Environment at : http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/forms/email-form.php
Telephone at : (416) 314-6790
Fax at : (416) 314-7337
1 Comments:
Now there's a brilliant idea. Why didn't I ever think of that? Free raw materials to use for manufacturing for resale. Think of the profits. And the side benefit is so beneficial. Cool!
Anyway, I sent a note to the Minister in a round about way. The online form isn't configured properly.
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