In the fall of 2013 Synthetic Turf Council members addressed the issue of what to do with unwanted old turf.
Since the synthetic turf market has exploded over the last decade, more and more fields need to be replaced.
There is an environmental issue of what to do with the old turf at hand. The non–friendly waste options such as landfilling, incinerating or turf destined for reuse (which can remain in commercial or farmland storage facilities for years without the owners knowledge because there of an insufficient paper trail) has led to dissatisfaction amongst clients and owners and puts these companies at risk of liability of breaching specifications.
Various options on what to do with old turf were investigated and the one that stood out was the recycling of synthetic turf waste material into new marketable usable products, which include items like posts, planks and other dimensional lumber.
Target Technologies, along with our Asian partner has been successful in developing a recycling system that meets the laws and spirits of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of the US EPA. Our recycling system is a heat and pressure extrusion method, which processes 100% of the turf in whole without separation. During this process, any toxicity is burned off or absorbed by the polyethylene fiber, which now becomes inseparable by physical means resulting in our building products being free of any leachates. The process is exempt from regulations as per 40 CFR 261(e) (1) (i).
Below you will find an extract of our process:
1. Pricing, typically given within 24-72 hrs and offered globally is based on the square meter or square footage of the pitch.
2. A typical 80,000 sq. ft. or 7,500 sq. meter pitch with 95% of the infill removed requires two containers. The turf must be rolled, banded and then loaded into numbered containers and then sealed.
3. TII and its global partners take the responsibility of having the containers on site as per the schedule that is given by your removal contractor and removed off the site after loading.
4. The containers are loaded onto a container ship destined for Malaysia, Hong Kong or Mainland China for processing into post-consumer products.
5. The facilities in Malaysia, Hong Kong or Mainland China receive the synthetic turf and process it into post-consumer products such as posts and nailer boards.
6. TTII and its global partners are responsible for the chain of custody that assures the owner that the synthetic turf has been removed and converted into products for resale.
7. At the end of the recycling program, TTII and its global partners issue a “Certificate of Compliance”.
Recycling v non-recycling
1. Owners, architects and engineers are at the mercy of groups that claim the synthetic turf is being reused but without a proper paper trail it is unknown if the turf is in fact being used or if it just sitting in a warehouse or property somewhere. This puts companies wanting to do the right thing at potential risk of liability of breaching specifications.
2. TTII and its global partners offer a sound, environmentally conscious solution that keeps synthetic turf out of landfills, vacant properties and warehouses thus avoiding potential liabilities.
3. TTII’s Synthetic Turf Recycling Program processes 100% of the used synthetic turf and transforms it into saleable, useable every day post-consumer products.
4. TTII and its global partners maintain a chain of custody from the time the containers arrive on site until 100% of the synthetic turf is recycled. Once complete a “Certificate of Compliance” is issued showing the pick-up, drop off and recycling dates clearly documenting the commitment to recycle has been fully met. If required, 3rd party certification is also available at an additional charge.