Fossil Fuel-Based Artificial Turf Raises Concerns

Local governments are starting to address the environmental impacts of artificial turf, which grew in popularity in recent decades as an alternative to thirsty natural grass.

In an article for Route Fifty, Kaitlyn Levinson explains that artificial turf can contain toxic materials like PFAS and leach fossil fuel-based materials into local groundwater. States like California, which in 2015 barred local jurisdictions from banning artificial turf, are now rethinking that decision. “In October 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that still prohibits cities and counties from banning drought-tolerant lawns consisting of living plants, but does allow them to ban synthetic grass.”

For property owners looking for turf alternatives, landscaping with native vegetation offers another option. “Biodiverse landscapes containing native plants and vegetation, for instance, can help communities strengthen local ecosystems and build climate resilience.”