How to Recycle Rubber Mats

The floor mats in your horse's stall or a truck's bed liner could likely be descended from the bald car tires you disposed of at the body shop. Recycled mats manufactured under EPA recommendations consist of 75 to 100 percent post-consumer material, including tires collected and incinerated at landfill recycling facilities. (See Reference 1) While recycling the end product does not enjoy the same public awareness as tire recycling, an Indiana Institute of Technology study used rubber mats as stand-ins for experiments based on converting tires into construction materials. Before completing the cycle and returning the rubber mats for other uses, investigate other uses for them around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber mats
• Ruler
• Chalk
• Paper and pencil
• Dremel tool with blade attachment
• Straight-edged knife
• Dish soap
• Hose or utility sink

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Instructions

• 1

  Give clean, undamaged mats to others if the mat is left over from an abandoned project or traded-in truck.

• 2

  Brainstorm new uses for the mat. Small pieces of a thicker mat can complete a homemade sandal project. Flimsier mats can become liners for planter boxes and protect wood floors from sliding furniture legs or flower pot water rings.

• 3

  Make a template. Measure and mark rectangular pieces on the mat. Pieces meant to fit tightly into a planter box or onto a foot require a template. Trace the base of a patio pot or your own foot on a sturdy piece of paper. For shoes, trace your foot, plus add an extra 3/8 inch margin to the two sides and toe. (See Reference 3) Add a tab piece at the back of the foot, and two on each side. The side pieces correspond to where straps should go. Experiment with placement to maximize the amount of leftover rubber for another project.

• 4

  Draw a chalk line to guide your tool.

  Cut out the pieces. Guide the Dremel blade along the chalk line. The blade works slowly through the thickest mats, so hold it steady to create a straight line. For lightweight mats, such as a car or boot mat, use a straight-edge blade, depending on thickness. Always cut away from yourself.

• 5

  Clean the mat pieces with soapy water. If you washed the mat prior to cutting, wash it again to remove any stray particles. Set the pieces outside on pavement or in a utility sink. Squirt dish soap directly onto the mat. Rinse with a hose or tap water and scrub with your fingertips or an abrasive pad. Do not use a rag or pad intended for food use.

• 6

  Drop leftovers at the recycling center.

  Contact your local landfill that has a tire recycling program to determine the disposal fee for the leftover rubber. Some centers apply a per-tire fee that may or may not apply to mats. Others may accept rubber by weight. Collect the pieces in a box or bag until you accumulate enough for a worthy trip.