Stop the Plastic Takeover of Our Parks! Tell the city we want natural grass not plastic turf!

We invite you to join Keep Crocker Real in calling for an immediate moratorium on the installation of artificial turf in the city and county of San Francisco.

The use of synthetic or artificial turf on playing fields presents a multitude of public health, environmental and climate concerns. Synthetic turf is a petrochemical product made from plastic fibers typically composed of polypropylene or polyethylene, plastic backing, supporting layers and infill. These components have been found to contain toxic chemicals including phthalates, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenols. In addition to direct exposure to chemicals when using the field, all of these chemicals—including PFAS which are persistent and mobile in the environment and human body—could potentially contaminate groundwater supplies via stormwater runoff.

Artificial turf consists of many types of chemicals, plastic and rubber; the PFAS chemicals in the grass blades limit recycling and reuse options. There are three disposal practices: incineration, mechanical dismantling and landfill.  Pyrolysis or “chemical recycling” is a form of incineration with serious toxic impacts and creates large amounts of hazardous waste. Mechanical recycling is challenging and releases more microplastics. Landfill directly undermines San Francisco’s Zero Waste goals.