greener sports fields

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Environment: greener sports fields

Synthetic sports fields must now be filled with a natural material and no longer with plastic materials. – (France 2)

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France 2 – F.Vallet, S.Thiebaut, L.Michel

France Televisions

Synthetic sports fields must now be filled with a natural material and no longer with plastic materials.

Pontoise (Val-d’Oise) has just inaugurated its synthetic sports field, made with corn filling, a biodegradable material. Following a European law, cities which have chosen synthetic pitches must adopt more natural materials for filling their artificial lawn. “So that the grass can stay straight, it must be filled. That’s why it’s filled with sand or corncobs.”explains Arif Osmani, sports director.

Plastic substances toxic to health and the environment

The land represents a million euros investment, three times more than natural land, but it is more advantageous for the city, which does not have to water, sod, or apply fertilizer. “It’s a real saving on operation.”, assures Arif Osmani. The municipality had invested in a first synthetic pitch, filled with recycled tire beads. These substances have proven to be toxic. Tire beads contain hydrocarbons and heavy metals. According to the environment agency, the environmental impact of a synthetic pitch remains higher than that of natural pitch.


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