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How do we address the low-hanging "plastic fruit" of drastic reduction of plastic production? One is single-use plastics -- we are starting to address that.
But another low-hanging "plastic fruit" is to stop and then get rid of Synthetic-turf playing fields (hot-toxin-laden plastic covering hundreds of thousands acres of formerly vegetated land). These are a double whammy for the climate: replace something good for climate and Stormwater for something that superficially looks and acts similar but actually the climate and health opposite.
Consider! Enormous plastic tufted carpets are not only hotter than asphalt and shed microplastics plus related toxins (including the dreaded PFAS chemicals) but they also replace cooling, oxygenating grass and filtering soil.
Demonstrably false synthetic turf recycling claims which are leading to literal mountains of toxin laden plastic carpeting and granulated tire rubber 4-1-21: Artificial Turf âRecyclingâ A Decade-Long Deception. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wndy6dLJGk)
Pollution from tire wear 1,000 times worse than exhaust emissions | Tire Technology International
The average 80,000 sq ft field has (industry estimate) 800 million plastic blades
https://www.techtextil-blog.com/en/800-million-blades-of-grass-for-a-soccer-field/
Per field equivalents:
Eunomia 2018 Microplastics Report includes synthetic turf https://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/good-environmental-status/adescriptor-10/pdf/microplastics_final_report_v5_full.pdf
Synthetic turf carpeting is meant to mimic the look of grass, usually for athletic fields or landscaping. A standard soccer field contains about 40,000 lbs (20-30 tons) of virgin plastic fibers (usually polyethylene or nylon) in a plastic (usually urethane) backing. The carpets usually are ballasted with about 400,000 lbs (200-300 tons) of infill material to hold up the plastic blades- such as granulated tires, manufacturing waste (often called âNikegrindâ: a video of Nikegrind up close), small plastic pellets or polymer-coated sand. There are approximately 1-3 pounds of granules per square foot of carpet.
See: Video of synthetic manufacturing waste being spread on a plastic field in DC. In athletic fields, there is also often a cushioning layer under the carpet called a shock pad, which can contain styrofoam, plastics, and tire-based materials.
What Municipal Stormwater (MS4) permit managers need to understand is the danger these fields pose to human health and stream ecosystems. The plastic carpets contain proprietary mixes of heavy metals and chemicals including plasticizers, ultraviolet and stain inhibitors and flame retardants such as Phthalates and PFAS âforeverâ chemicals. The carpets constantly shed plastic fibers, plastic dust, debris and infill (an estimated 5-10% of the field per year) into air, soil and during rain events they enter into storm drains and eventually to receiving waters. 1-5 tons of infill is replaced/recommended per year. This short video [?] was taken during the summer of 2018 of many athletic fields in Washington, DC. See how the carpet degrades and how the infill washes away: Synthetic Turf Fields Are Failing.
Not only do these fields pose environmental health problems while in place, consider the health impact of the production of plastic and plastic carpets on the communities where they are produced(, and then the environmental health impacts of the fields when they eventually wear out, are removed and sent to the landfill (not recycled), full of toxic chemicals. It is a continuous cycle of plastic pollution, cradle to dumping site.
(See: Hidden gotcha in artificial turf installations - EHN)
Is your public works and parks department considering the implications to human health and receiving waters from these unrecyclable synthetic fields, tire crumb, PFAS and other chemicals?
Are these discharges in compliance with your MS4 permit?
Stormwater management facilities (BMPs) are not designed to treat these pollutants nor should the use of these BMPs downstream of synthetic fields be considered permission to pollute by those MS4 permitees installing these synthetic fields. Whatâs more, depending on the local guidelines for disposal of BMP filtration media and captured materials, these pollutants might be coming back into circulation if composted and used for landscaping.