Australian capital bans artificial grass over concerns regarding microplastics

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A local council in the Canberra region has made moves to ban artificial grass from nature strips. Proponents say it's based on concerns fake turf leaks microplastics into the environment.

Transcript

00:00With no mowing or watering required, synthetic turf has become a popular choice for fields

00:08and backyards.

00:10But not everyone is a fan.

00:12Artificial grass has plastic, artificial turf has PFAs and it's not good for our stormwater.

00:16Queenby and Pallarang Regional Council wants to ban fake turf being used on nature strips

00:22and they're seeking public feedback.

00:24If you already have it, you don't need to panic and dig it up, number one.

00:28Secondly, this is a suggested policy change.

00:32Landscapers say while artificial grass is common, it's not often used on nature strips.

00:37I do it occasionally and usually it's a last resort.

00:39You know, it's usually for erosion control, people have trouble on sloped blocks trying

00:43to retain gardens and decompose granite.

00:46Though the council has no plans to ban the material from homes and new developments, in

00:50the ACT crossbenchers argue real grass is always greener.

00:54I don't think Canberrans are fully aware of just all the implications of what this means.

00:58How it makes suburbs hotter, how it leaches microplastics into the waterways and how eventually

01:03it's going to end up in landfill.

01:05The Territory Government has told the Legislative Assembly it's reviewing its current policies.

01:10The Greens say controls are an environmental imperative.

01:13I want to see far less artificial grass in the Canberra community.

01:17Whether that be a ban or other forms of regulation, this is what I want the Government to explore.

01:22I think regulating would probably be a bit of an easier approach and giving people less

01:27options isn't always a good thing.

01:28So giving them the turf option but having it so that it's installed properly, it's quality,

01:33it's got good drainage.

01:34A growing concern.

01:43A growing concern.

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