Ban Plastic Grass Sports Pitches on Greenspace
The Issue
Plastic grass sports pitches cause significant microplastic and chemical pollution in the environment. DEFRA has confirmed that the pitches are the largest source of intentionally added microplastic pollution in the UK. The decontamination of these green sites would be extraordinarily expensive. We are asking the UK Government to ban local planning authorities from approving any more plastic grass sports pitches on green field sites e.g. in parks, community green spaces, natural grass playing fields in schools and urban green space. Plastic grass sports pitches harm wildlife and people. Plastic grass sports pitches are unsustainable.
1. Rubber crumb plastic pitch infill is made from old tyres and contains hundreds of toxic chemicals.
2. The rubber crumb particles are microplastics that escape easily into the environment and pollute soil, water, air, wildlife and people. Animals eat the microplastics mistaking the crumbs for food. Players accidentally ingest or inhale the particles. Nanoparticles can also be absorbed through the skin. The plastic grass blades are also a significant source of microplastic emissions.
3. Rubber crumb contains hundreds of harmful chemicals. For example: heavy metals like Lead, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
4. Plastic grass sports pitches are also a source of PFAS forever chemicals. PFAS chemicals accumulate in wildlife and humans. PFAS pollution is fuelling the biodiversity crisis. Exposure to the most studied PFAS is linked to an array of adverse health effects including thyroid disease, liver damage and an increased risk of breast, kidney and testicular cancer.
5. The pitches create wildlife deserts, destroying soil biodiversity, habitat and foraging sites.
6. The pitches are barriers to animal movement, fragmenting landscapes and harming ecological connectivity.
7. The pitches cause urban heat islands, reducing the quality of the air and release harmful chemical gases in hot weather.
8. Floodlit pitches cause light pollution that affects bats, insects, birds, other animals, trees and people.
9. The pitches increase the risk of serious flooding problems.
10. Recycling facilities in the UK are grossly inadequate with only one facility in Scotland.
We need urgent action now because of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and to support the UK’s commitment to end plastic pollution through its membership of the High Ambition Coalition.
1,121
The Issue
Plastic grass sports pitches cause significant microplastic and chemical pollution in the environment. DEFRA has confirmed that the pitches are the largest source of intentionally added microplastic pollution in the UK. The decontamination of these green sites would be extraordinarily expensive. We are asking the UK Government to ban local planning authorities from approving any more plastic grass sports pitches on green field sites e.g. in parks, community green spaces, natural grass playing fields in schools and urban green space. Plastic grass sports pitches harm wildlife and people. Plastic grass sports pitches are unsustainable.
1. Rubber crumb plastic pitch infill is made from old tyres and contains hundreds of toxic chemicals.
2. The rubber crumb particles are microplastics that escape easily into the environment and pollute soil, water, air, wildlife and people. Animals eat the microplastics mistaking the crumbs for food. Players accidentally ingest or inhale the particles. Nanoparticles can also be absorbed through the skin. The plastic grass blades are also a significant source of microplastic emissions.
3. Rubber crumb contains hundreds of harmful chemicals. For example: heavy metals like Lead, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
4. Plastic grass sports pitches are also a source of PFAS forever chemicals. PFAS chemicals accumulate in wildlife and humans. PFAS pollution is fuelling the biodiversity crisis. Exposure to the most studied PFAS is linked to an array of adverse health effects including thyroid disease, liver damage and an increased risk of breast, kidney and testicular cancer.
5. The pitches create wildlife deserts, destroying soil biodiversity, habitat and foraging sites.
6. The pitches are barriers to animal movement, fragmenting landscapes and harming ecological connectivity.
7. The pitches cause urban heat islands, reducing the quality of the air and release harmful chemical gases in hot weather.
8. Floodlit pitches cause light pollution that affects bats, insects, birds, other animals, trees and people.
9. The pitches increase the risk of serious flooding problems.
10. Recycling facilities in the UK are grossly inadequate with only one facility in Scotland.
We need urgent action now because of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and to support the UK’s commitment to end plastic pollution through its membership of the High Ambition Coalition.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 29 January 2023