Approximately 30 tons of recycled rubber tree mulch--made from recycled scrap tires--will nurture nearly 450 trees in eight Chicago parks this fall. The Recycling Old Tires Aids The Environment (R.O.T.A.T.E.) programs, sponsored by Sears Auto Centers, donated the tires to the Chicago Park District. The program is a new, nationwide initiative that encourages tire recycling through a wide variety of uses for recycled tires. The first Chicago park to kick off this initiative was Kilbourn Park.

Recycled rubber mulch, often utilized to support trees at Disney World, state parks and highway rest stops, is colored with a non-toxic dye that makes it look like shredded wood. It has several advantages over traditional mulch: recycled rubber mulch does not deteriorate quickly and because it is five times the weight of wood mulch, it is less likely to blow away and need frequent replenishing; it contains zinc and iron that act as natural weed deterrents and therefore reduces the use of toxic herbicides; it contributes to the conservation of water by creating a moisture barrier at the base of the tree; and recycled rubber mulch makes use of scrap tires that would otherwise be a waste and nuisance.

The other Chicago parks in the R.O.T.A.T.E. program are Amundsen, Gage, Lindblom, Riis, Rosenblum, Wilson and Woodhull. Each was chosen by the Park District and is in the vicinity of a Sears store.