- Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian recycles tyres to tiles
- Date: 20th May 2014
- Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (MAY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) TYRE RECYCLING BUSINESS OWNER BASHAR ZAGHAL ENTERING HIS OFFICE POSTER SHOWING FLOORS MADE OF RECYCLED TYRES VARIOUS OF MACHINE THAT CRUSHES AND MINCES TYRES TO MAKE TILES BASHAR ZAGHAL OWNER OF THE MADAS COMPANY IN OFFICE SIGN READING MADAS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF THE MADAS COMPANY, BASHAR ZAGHAL, SAYING: "In order to produce the rubber tiles from used tyres, we crush them into pieces and add some material. Then we make the rubber tiles, which are suitable for use people and are actually highly useful for use by people." VARIOUS OF TILES MADE OUT FROM TYRES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF MADAS COMPANY, BASHAR ZAGHAL, SAYING: "We collect the used tyres, cut them into small pieces and then we put them into a machine that crushes them into small grains." VARIOUS OF TILES MADE FROM TYRES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF MADAS COMPANY, BASHAR ZAGHAL, SAYING: "When I started the project, we used to collect the tyres from the road, garbage, trash and from shops that fix tyres, but after that the Hebron Municipality started to bring the used tyres to us in exchange for money as a way to help us in our work." HEBRON, WEST BANK (MAY 20, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF VILLA OWNED BY AMJAD ABU TABANA VARIOUS OF GIRL CLEANING OUTDOOR FLOOR TILES, MADE FROM TYRES VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING IN GARDEN CLOSE OF TILES MADE FROM TYRES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF VILLA, AMJAD ABU TABANA, SAYING: "These tiles are a unique product for us here. They are safe for children to play on. Nothing happens to children while playing and jumping on it." BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (MAY 20, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF OLIVE TREE HOTEL SIGN READING OLIVE TREE HOTEL VARIOUS OF TILES AROUND SWIMMING POOL MADE OF RECYCLED TYRES
- Embargoed: 4th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA2CR17ESBFDIULE5OOM1TOSPVF
- Story Text: A young Palestinian in the West Bank city of Hebron turns unused car tyres into decorative floor tiles that are being installed in homes, around swimming pools and a childcare centre.
Bashar Zaghal uses car tyres that are no longer suitable for use due to damage.
The young entrepreneur said the tyres were among the biggest waste problems in the city because of the sheer number of them - something he used to self-start his business "Madas" - a word that means floor in Palestinian Arabic.
"In order to produce the rubber tiles from used tyres, we crush them into pieces and add some material. Then we make the rubber tiles, which are suitable for use people and are actually highly useful for use by people," Zaghal told Reuters TV.
His company uses machines that grind and crush the tyres into small pieces which are then used to shape the tiles.
"We collect the used tyres, cut them into small pieces and then we put them into a machine that crushes them into small grains," he added.
The 25-year-old businessman believes his initiative is a first step towards the reuse of waste material in the Palestinian Territories.
"When I started the project, we used to collect the tyres from the road, garbage, trash and from shops that fix tyres, but after that the Hebron Municipality started to bring the used tyres to us in exchange for money as a way to help us in our work," he said.
Meanwhile, the tiles have been an attraction to some families who see them as a safe alternative to outdoor tiling that can pose a risk to child safety.
Amjad Abu Tabana, whose villa has floors made of the recycled tyres, said they are safe for his children to play on.
"Nothing happens to children while playing and jumping on it," he said.
Zaghal said each meter of the rubber tiles is sold between 75-120NIS ($21.5-34.2 US dollars). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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