SB 676, a new bill that is currently going through the California legislature, aims to return to cities and counties the power of banning the installation of harmful artificial turf on residential property. 

Artificial turf is harmful for a number of reasons. In fact, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Association, artificial turf pollutes waterways, spreads many toxic chemicals including PFAS (cancer-causing non-biodegradable chemicals), creates heat islands as a result of its lack of natural cooling properties, increases the rate of sports injuries and infections, contributes to the world’s ever-growing problem of plastic waste, removes the mental health benefits of natural grass, and is more costly to install and maintain.

In October 2015, the California legislature passed AB 1164 — a bill which prohibits the installation of “drought tolerant landscaping, synthetic grass, or artificial turf on residential property.” Not only does this bill take the power away from city councils to do what is necessary and appropriate for their respective cities, but it also incorrectly cites artificial turf and synthetic grass as examples of drought tolerant landscaping. 

By counteracting this bill, SB 676 will return the power of banning the installation of artificial turf on residential property to cities and counties. By returning this power to cities and counties, properties under their local jurisdictions will get the opportunity to improve their community’s well-being. By signing this petition, you will bring us one step closer to achieving a stronger legislative democracy, and one step closer to making our world more environmentally friendly.

To learn more about the details of SB 676, read here: https://pluralpolicy.com/app/legislative-tracking/bill/details/state-ca-20232024-sb676/1243510

Thumnail image by Valley Water