Answer Coming Wednesday About Tire Mulch At Mahwah Playgrounds

MAHWAH, NJ — An answer about whether tire mulch will remain at several school playgrounds or be replaced with something else is coming Wednesday night.

Board of Education trustee Michael Galow, chairman of the board's Facility Committee, will make a statement at a board meeting regarding the mulch, Superintendent C. Lauren Schoen confirmed Tuesday.

The board meeting is at 7 p.m. at the school district's administrative office at 60 Ridge Road.

Parents are concerned that the mulch may be hazardous to kids' health. A group of them in March cited an independent analysis by Yale University that found 11 known carcinogens, heavy metals, including lead, and 20 skin and lung irritants, from nine different samples of rubber mulch taken from playgrounds.

Related: Mahwah Parents Want Tire Mulch Removed From School Playgrounds

Parents have complained about the tire pieces for years. Anne Powley said they leave a black residue on kids' skin, clothes, and shoes, and end up in kids' shoes and clothes, and wind up inside homes.

More than 500 people have signed an online petition to persuade the Board of Education to replace the tire mulch.

Schoen said in March that the Mahwah Board of Education "maintains its facilities in compliance with all acceptable state and federal laws." She recommended that the board consider replacing the mulch.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com