Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rubber Mulch Safe?

Absolutely! Rubber mulch is 100% non-toxic and eco-friendly. "Playground surfaces can contain recovered rubber and PVC materials that are often more desirable than wood chips, sand, or asphalt, because they can provide more cushioning and thereby may be safer for children. You can find playground surfaces made with recovered materials at schools, military bases, and housing developments." -- Source EPA.gov

One advantage of rubber mulch over other playground surfaces is it's elasticity or "spring". Rubber mulch's elasticity gives it a springy quality when used in thicker layers of 3 - 6 inches. Rubber mulch is a natural choice for playgrounds.

Rubber Mulch is made of 100% recycled tires.

Rubber Mulch from Mulch Direct will not fade in most environments for up to 12 years or more. We guarantee it.

Once opened, Mulch Direct Rubber Mulch has an odor initially. However, within 48 hours, the smell will dissipate.

Mulch Direct Rubber Mulch is colored using a licensed process and seals the rubber after the desired color is applied.

Unlike organic materials, Rubber Mulch will not stain clothes.

We offer both 40lb bags and 2,000lb supersacks.

A Supersack is a container-big bag, also known as bulk bag that contains approximately 2,000 lbs.

Rubber Mulch can be used for many applications, please refer to our Rubber Mulch Calculator to give you an accurate estimate on how much you will need or call us at 800-778-6852 and we can assist you in calculating how much you need.

The most ideal way to install rubber mulch is over a weed fabric. We recommend using a weed fabric and not a plastic material because plastic is not permeable. When installing rubber mulch over a weed fabric, you will never have any weed problems, and you won’t have to worry about previous mulch debris mixing with it. Rubber Mulch can be installed over your previous wood mulch, but make sure the wood mulch has had time to decay and become compacted.

Simply use a leaf blower or a rake to remove yard debris.

Rubber Mulch will not decompose. If fading begins after at least 12 years, you can either top-dress it with fresh Rubber Mulch or till it into the soil. Rubber Mulch is safe to till into the soil because it is nontoxic and acts as an aerator to help keep the soil from compacting. Similar rubber products such as crumb rubber are being used for the same purpose in athletic fields all across the country. You can also rake up your faded mulch to use as landfill.

Rubber Mulch keeps soil 10° cooler in summer and 10° warmer in winter.

Rubber Mulch does not absorb water, it will not freeze.

Rubber Mulch is not flammable. Tire chips were tested in 1995 in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (16 CFR 1500.44) to determine whether this material would be considered "flammable." (A material is considered flammable if it ignites and burns with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than 0.1 inches per second along its major axis.) Per these test results, scrap tire material is considered nonflammable.

In 1994 the Maryland Environmental Services (MES) put this question to a series of tests. At the MES request, a testing laboratory subjected ¾-inch pieces of tire chips to hydrochloric acid (stomach acid). "Visual examination of insoluble residue appeared to indicate only fibrous reinforcing strands were dissolved by the hydrochloric acid. The tire rubber did not appear to be affected in any way; i.e., chalking, cracking, fracturing, etc." (PSI Report No. 486-40013-001)

*If a piece of rubber is swallowed, it should not cause any acute or chronic problems. Short-term issues, such as an upset stomach, will be a function of the amount of rubber swallowed. As to the fate of the rubber chips swallowed, they are eventually evacuated from the body, just like any other indigestible material.

Rubber Mulch is great for horse arenas and stalls. It is easy on horses’ joints when they step on it, and it is dust free. Many of our customers mix in the rubber mulch with sand and dirt.

Mulch Direct Rubber Mulch meets all of the criteria established by the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and complies with ASTM F1292-04, Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation Under and Around Playground Equipment.