AstroTurf Now Recycles Synthetic Turf

AstroTurf, the inventor of synthetic turf, now will fully recycle turf fields. This revolutionary development will have untold impact on the synthetic turf market and the environment.

The introduction of third-generation, tall pile turf products in the late 1990s precipitated an unprecedented market explosion. This growth has left the synthetic turf industry with a significant dilemma—what to do with the fields once they reach the end of their usable lives. Previously, synthetic turf owners were forced to dispose of turf in landfills. But now after years of research and development AstroTurf now offers full-field recycling.

The proprietary recycling process functions as follows: When a field is being replaced, specialized machinery removes the infill. Afterward, the entire field is cut into manageable strips, rolled up and shipped to AstroTurf’s recycling facilities in Dalton, Ga. There the rolls are ground up, melted into pellets and re-extruded into new plastics. All elements of the field are recycled (including the backing, secondary coating, tall pile polyethylene fibers and the nylon RootZone. Post-consumer uses for synthetic turf include pallets and other industrial applications.

“Bringing sustainable solutions to our customers has always been an important AstroTurf goal,” says Bryan Peeples, AstroTurf’s president. “We are proud to introduce this ground-breaking environmental initiative and to lead the industry by example.”