Without a viable end of life solution for synthetic turf waste, the product presents a significant problem for Australia's landfills.
The Challenge
Over the next year, 10 Football fields will end up in landfill*
Traditionally, synthetic turf surfaces have an average lifespan of 8-12 years, after which the product is disposed of as landfill. In Australia, synthetic turf has not had a viable end-of-life disposal method. This linear waste management approach poses a significant risk to Australia's finite resources, landfill and emissions.
When synthetic turf is disposed of, it's not just the turf that's wasted; VALUABLE RESOURCES SUCH AS sand and rubber, commonly used in synthetic turf surfaces, are also lost.
*FIFA, Environmental Impact Study on Artificial Football Turf (2017)
RESOURCES BOUND FOR
LANDFILL*:
SAND
KG
Virgin silica sand,USED to keep fibres upright
RUBBER
SBR performance infill for soccer & football
KG
PLASTICS
KG
turf fibres & backing
CURRENT DISPOSAL METHOD:
SYNTHETIC TURF's CURRENT linear waste DISPOSAL METHOD
The extraction of natural resources, disposal of valuable materials, and the release of environmental pollutants from landfill make synthetic turf's contribution to environmental degradation unsustainable for Australia's future. But there's a better way…
