Plastic grass (Astroturf / artificial grass) has been laid at the University of Canterbury outside Haere-Roa, Engineering (Crekye Rd) and between Beatrice Tinsley / Puaka James Hight.

Plastic grass can break down over time with exposure to the sun, rain, and wear (walking / sitting on it). This releases microplastics (small plastic particles) which can be picked up by the wind and enter the environment where animals vital to our ecosystem (worms, fish, invertebrates) can mistake them for food and starve.

Plastic grass also contains nasty chemicals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which can leach out / off-gas / and be taken up by us and these small animals important to the eco system, with the potential for toxic effects (carcinogenic, reproductive, mutagenic).

The plastic grass particularly outside Haere-roa is on a slope downhill, where these plastic grass microplastics can head straight into the stream.

My understanding of the plastic grass being laid is that the groundskeeping budget has been cut. This petition is to start a conversation with UC that we aren't a fan of the plastic grass and about the grounds budget cut.

Thanks team!!