After our recent move to Mexico City we were looking for flowerpots for our new plants and some friends recommended we look up Macetas Genaro. They mentioned they were great looking pots, but there was no further explanation. When I found Macetas Genaro on Facebook I was surprised to see that these flowerpots are made out of recycled tires!

Genaro López, the man behind Macetas Genaro, makes his creations with recycled tires, a problematic byproduct of our motorized lives. Many millions of tires end up in garbage dumps every year (where they will remain for many more to come) and Genaro's flowerpots make use of these seemingly useless discarded objects, giving them a new life and helping to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

Macetas Genaro offers a range of flowerpots in different sizes and models, each one made by hand from a range of tires including standard car, motorcycle, van and truck tires. The ridges in the different types of tires add a great decorative pattern around the rims and bases.

Mr. Lopez has offered workshops and has collaborated with cultural institutions to showcase his flowerpots and demonstrate how they are produced. To learn more about Macetas Genaro you can check out his video or visit his Facebook page

If you are elsewhere in the world and would like a recycled tire planter, there are several options for you as well:

Australia
Ubeauty Pots and Plants produces pots out of biodegradable and recycled materials.

UK
Hen and Hammock has recycled tire planters available in three sizes.

USA
Recycled Creations offers several different products made out of recycled tires including horse-shaped swings and tropical bird planters.

Duchess Craft also offers some great looking tire planters.

And if you would like to know how you can use old tires in your garden, there are some great ideas in "A new use for old tires" in www.backwoodshome.com

Image: Macetas Genaro