Many facility owners choose to install synthetic turf fields for their reduced impact on the environment. They don’t require pesticides, fertilizers, abundant irrigation or mowing. However, this sustainable approach need not end at the end of a field’s functional life. For synthetic turf to continue to be a responsible option for field owners, what happens to these fields following their useful life needs to be a priority consideration.
According to Turf Reclamation Solutions, nearly 1,000 synthetic turf fields will be replaced in the United States this year, with that number projected to increase by 10 percent over the next two years. Taking a more holistic view of synthetic turf use can benefit the environment tremendously, and with enough demand, sustainable, recyclable materials can be used much more widely in these fields, reducing the waste of natural resources and the ultimate contribution to landfills.
By Thomas P. Shay, from the Sept issue of Athletic Business. Read it all here