I’ve had a couple of grumbles in these Leaders over the years regarding the damage being done to wildlife and the environment by the growing use of artificial grass - not only when the stuff is in place but also once it’s been discarded. I’d assumed it ended up in landfill. Not necessarily so though… 

  

I learned this week that as part of an overall drive to improve the sustainability of its artificial lawn installations, the Artificial Lawn Company had partnered with a specialist in the regeneration of waste artificial grass... The Nottingham-based Let's Recycle Artificial Grass, will in future collect and recycle all the old and discarded grass ALC removes, as well as offcuts, roll ends and trimmings collected during installation, before reprocessing them into a range of everyday urban furniture products such as park benches, flower boxes, stadium seating and edging boards! Who’d have thought? 

  

“This is the first step in a longer journey to ensuring that our products satisfy the drive for greater sustainability" says Sam Baylis of the ALC. “The longer term aim is to complete a full regeneration cycle, in which the grass waste is processed back into a recycled grass product, reducing the overall need for using virgin plastic. It’s crucial that more of the key players in the industry work together to achieve this, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this drive.” 

  

With projections indicating that by 2027 the industry will achieve sales of 20 million sq.m annually (and that’s just in the UK!), it’s heartening to learn that something’s being done to minimise the environmental impact of the stuff once it’s no longer of use in its original format. LRAG operates a nationwide collection service and I for one am hoping that its recycling plant is soon operating full pelt. However, I’d still rather see a move away from replacing what has always grown naturally and which fully supports nature and the wider environment, with a sub-standard plastic version. All-weather sports pitches I can understand, but anywhere else? No, not really!