The Real Life Repurposing Abundance/Waste Challenge by @ecotrain

For more than a year now, i have been working to reduce tire pollution in the city of Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon.
My principal goal of this initiative is to stop people from burning tires and educate them to understand that tires are a great resource that we can use for gardening, erosion control and to produce seats.
As my submission for the @ecotrain waste challenge, i wanted to share some of the things i have been able to produce from tires:

1. Upcycling tires into erosion embankments

Over the past few weeks, my cousin Tirlamo and i have tried to make erosion embankments from tires. You can learn more about our tire upcycling initiative here;

2. Upcycling tires into Mushroom Tire Seats and Tire Flower Pots

I have been able to teach students in schools such as the University of Bamenda, Government High School Kedjom-Keku, Government Technical School Nkeung, CAMSCI, etc on how to upcycle tires into Mushroom Tire Seats and Tire Flower Pots.

@mr-greens educating the children

How to make Mushroom Tire Seats

At my organization, @thegreens, we call them “Mushroom Tire Seats” because they appear as if they are growing from the ground and have a round mushroom cap.
To make a Mushroom Tire Seat is Simple and very cheap.
All you need are;

1. Tires
2. Soil
3. Sand
4. Cement
5. Paint
6. Digging tools

Follow this simple procedure to make your Mushroom Tire Seat

1. Select tires of the same or similar sizes.
   

2. Dig a 15cm hole into the ground that has the same size like the tire.
   

3. Put the first tire into the hole and fill it with soil.
   

4. Put the second tire on top of the first tire and continue to fill it with soil. When you effectively fill the second tire with soil, it will create a “soil hook” that will make it difficult to be displaced from the first tire. You can add the third or fourth tire depending of the height of the seat you want to make and fill it with soil.
   

5. Once your tire seat height is attained, mix the cement(binder) and sand and seal the top seat by creating a gently sloping mushroom cap so that if it rains, the water can runoff the tire.
   

6. Paint your mushroom tire seat and leave it to dry for one day.
   

7. Enjoy your seat.
   
   

These students have also had the opportunity to learn how to make Tire Flower Pots

3. Upcycling Tires for Gardening

I have also been able to educate members of my community to engage in Tire Gardening.
@thegreens/x44yfatc
These are just some of the things i do to educate and engage people in the transformation of trash to treasure.

Mr. Green is a member/promoter of;