Recycling of plastic turf athletic fields continues to be a question with little to no clear answer. An article published in the MV Times on October 21st dives into this topic further with help from Amanda Farber from Safe Healthy Playing Fields, inc.
Click Read More below to see the full story from the MV Times.
As anyone who has played on plastic, artificial turf fields know, crumb rubber waste can literally show up almost anywhere. Parents and athletes have cited it showing up in shoes, socks, helmets, clothes, and even laundry machines where it can make its way into public water systems. Runoff waste from even the legal uses of these products can allow crumb rubber and plastic fibers to move into storm drains and other areas. As The Seattle Times reported on August 28th, the illegal uses of these products can have serious consequences as well. Click Read More below to see the full story from The Seattle Times.
What happens to a synthetic turf athletic field when it’s time for replacement? You can find them sitting on vacant plots of land across the country, according to an investigation by the York Daily Record and York Sunday News publications.
“Used artificial turf is expected to produce 1 million to 4 million tons of waste in the next 10 years, and it has nowhere to go, according to solid waste industry analysts,” the journalists report.
The article discusses the difficulties of recycling or disposing of synthetic turf. The only recycling facility in the world that can fully separate the parts is in Denmark, and bringing turf to landfills is an expensive and heavy lift (literally). Due to a lack of regulation and government oversight, old turf ends up in empty lots, backyards, public spaces and private land. The crumb rubber and chemicals in turf also present potential safety and health concerns for the surrounding environment.
Kyla Bennett, science and policy director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, says the best solution is to use natural grass.
This problem highlights a consequence of using a synthetic, disposable groundcover for our athletic fields. Unlike synthetic turf, natural grass is a sustainable plant with an endless lifespan.
For more information, click Read More for the full article from the York Daily Record
Original Article by Nathan Baca, ABC7 WJLA
How hot does artificial turf get during the summer months? One teenager found out in 2017, and his family is taking action by suing school employees for “violations of standards of care” after their son nearly died during soccer practice on artificial turf.
Full the original story click Read More:
Athletic field managers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) held their annual meetings at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill this week and TPI member Erin Wilder from Sod Solutions shared this graphic on Twitter. Synthetic turf fields were 60 degrees hotter than natural grass and 10 degrees hotter than asphalt! Which would you rather have your kids playing on?? #KeepItREAL
Original article by Iain Harrison, Vets-now.com
Worried about your pup’s paws on long walks in the hot weather? Check out this story from vets-now.com for information on how to avoid burnt puppy paws! Spoiler alert, natural grass is the coolest!
To read the full story, click Read More:
More than thirty band students were hospitalized from heat illness after practicing on a new synthetic turf football field in Marshall County West Virginia. Click “Original Story” below for a link to the full story and video
Original article published by Evan Lambert, Fox 5 DC
Worried about your child’s health on synthetic turf in hot weather? You’re not the only one! News channel Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. published an article below highlighting parents concerns on D.C. playgrounds where daytime temperatures on these plastic surfaces reached between 140 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. For more information and the original article, click the link below.
All you have to do is walk outside to know how hot 2018 has already been. If you find yourself on a plastic (synthetic) turf field then you can expect to be even hotter. Check out some of these recent tweets from sports field managers and parents.
Original article by Michael Quander, WUSA 9 in Washington, D.C.
Local parents express concerns about synthetic turf and rubber playground surfaces in Washington, D.C. where at least one child got 2nd degree burns on his feet while walking barefoot on a playground. A representative from the Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition says these types of injuries are all too common for kids playing on rubber surfaces. For the full story and 2-minute report from WUSA9 click on the link below: