Australian Institute of Sport

Premier Soccer Field Recycling

RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – A large outdoor sports pitch at an Australian sports institute is under construction, with sections of artificial turf removed and black materials and rolls laid out. Buildings, trees, and stadium floodlights can be seen in the background beneath a partly cloudy sky.
Client:Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
Delivery Partner:Polytan
Project:AIS Synthetic Field
SECTOR: Soccer
ABOUT THE PROJECT

Australia's First Full-system Recycling of a Soccer Field

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is Australia’s premier elite sporting institution and the backbone of the nation’s high-performance sports system.

Located in Bruce, ACT, AIS supports Olympic programs, national teams, and elite athlete development across multiple disciplines. Its facilities are nationally significant and subject to heightened scrutiny, making sustainability, safety, and delivery certainty essential.

The field involved was AIS’s premier synthetic field, installed approximately 12 years prior and reaching the end of its service life.

8,200m²

SYNTHETIC SOCCER FIELD

244T

of material recycled

77T

SBR shock pad recycled

~91T

CO₂e avoided through recycling

The Challenge

This project carried significant visibility and a new fully circular solution.

  • Federally funded, elite sporting facility with no tolerance for delivery risk
  • Tight 10-day program to remove both turf and underlying shock pad
  • Interstate mobilisation of people and specialist machinery
  • Requirement to recycle the full system, not just the synthetic turf
  • First time a full shock pad had been recycled beneath a soccer field
  • While RE4ORM had previously recycled shock pads on hockey fields, this was the first time the approach was applied to a soccer system, introducing new sequencing and coordination considerations.
RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – Workers install artificial turf on a football pitch at an Australian sports institute. Rolled-up turf and construction materials are scattered across the pitch, with several white bags in the foreground. Trees and a goalpost stand in the background.
The Solution

RE4ORM delivered a circular outcome at the home of Australian Sport

RE4ORM and Polytan implemented a tightly coordinated recycling strategy covering both turf and shock pad. Precision planning and integrated execution ensured the complete recovery of the field system within a strict federal delivery environment.
RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – Simple black outline icon showing three circles above a larger semi-circle with two side arcs, representing a group of people or community—perfect for illustrating teamwork or "how we do it" in collaborative environments.

Integrated Delivery Partnership

Collaborated with Polytan to align methodology with AIS standards and timelines.

RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – A simple black outline of a five-pointed star on a white background, reminiscent of the clean designs often seen at Kareela Oval.

Parallel Uplift Workflows

Expanded crews to remove turf and recover shock pad simultaneously.

RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – Three black lines—one wavy, one with connected semicircles, and one with circles—symbolise the cycle of recycling benefits and highlight a positive environmental impact on a clean, white background.

Custom Sequencing Strategy

Advanced downfield with dedicated shock pad recovery in sequence.

RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – A simple black and white icon of a document with a folded top-right corner and a tick in the centre, symbolising approval or completion, perfect for marking tasks done at Kareela Oval.

Coordinated Transport & Load Planning

Managed mixed materials safely using container and bridge load planning.

RE4ORM synthetic turf recycling – A simple line drawing of a factory with a gear-like roof and a rectangular door, featuring a circular arrow symbol on the building—much like how Kareela Oval is central to Kareela’s cycle of activity as a vibrant local sports ground.

On-Site Material Reprocessing Preparation

Prepared recovered SBR for shredding and reuse as softfall base material.

GOT AN END OF LIFE FIELD COMING UP?

RE4ORM partners with leading installers and government bodies to deliver credible, circular outcomes - even on Australia’s most visible sporting stages.

Book a call
Request a recycling assessment