[CANUFNET] Tree wells and weeds

[Ian Wilson]

Hi Dr. MacDonald,

 

I guess I don't understand your point, as these are made from recycled
rubber tires.  Will these tree mats really create an appreciable amount
of rubber odour or VOC's compared to the millions of rubber tires on
vehicles that are driving along the roads and releasing rubber particles
into the environment?  What is the alternative - to landfill the used
tires?

 

Thanks,  Ian 

 

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of MacDonald, Joanne
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 5:55 AM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Tree wells and weeds

 

Good morning,

 

 

Here are several things to consider.

 

 

Are they LEED certified for air quality? LEED provides a maximum value
allowed. At any rate, they are still sources of VOCs. 

 

VOCs combine with exhaust fumes in sunlight to create ground-level
ozone, which damages trees.

 

 

Rubber comes from latex. Given the ban on latex balloons in hospitals
(at least in the Maritimes) together with warnings in Emergency
Department and dentist's offices to tell staff if you have latex
allergies, is it wise to expose people?

 

 

Anyone with sensitivity to rubber tire odour will find it difficult
especially when temperatures rise. The latest statistics on
Environmental Illness is that an average of 20% of the North American
population has it.

 

 

Please reconsider.

 

Regards,

 

Joanne MacDonald, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Air Pollution and Forest Health

Natural Resources Canada

Canadian Forest Service

Fredericton

 

 

 

________________________________

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Ian Wilson
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 3:55 PM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: [CANUFNET] Tree wells and weeds

FYI - This might be of interest to other urban foresters.

 

We have a lot of open "tree wells", they are usually 4 or 6 feet square
tree pits in hardscape without a tree grate, and weeds have been an
on-going issue.  Especially now that we don't spray pesticides much
anymore.  

 

We've been looking for some alternative solutions for a few years now.
One product that we have tried that seems to work pretty well are the
recycled rubber tree rings but of course the problem is that they are
round and don't come in the right sizes.  Recently we were able to find
a manufacturer who is going to custom make some large rubber tree mats
for us.  These are 100% recycled rubber, LEED certified, they come in a
variety of colours and I believe they are porous so they allow water and
air to pass.

We're going to try some out.  In case others are interested in trying
this, here's what we've been quoted by Eco-Flex out of Alberta
(shekhar at telus.blackberry.net):

 

 

46" X 46" @$70ea less 20% your discount = $54ea

72" X 72" @$95ea less 20% your discount = $76ea

Freight and tax extra.

Availability 2-3 weeks from the date of receipt of the P.O. Because this
is a non standard / special size order. Future orders of the same size
will expedited faster.

 

 

 

Ian Wilson, Park Services Manager

Civic Operations

 

TEL 250 469-8842 

FAX 250 862-3335

City of Kelowna 1359 KLO road, Kelowna, BC  V1W 3N8  kelowna.ca
<http://www.kelowna.ca> 

 

 

 

 

 





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