Synthetic Turf Toolkit
Document prepared by Turf Australia in 2024
Biodiversity
The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments
Plastics are regarded as a major threat to ecosystems worldwide. Global plastic production reaches peaks of about 450 million metric tons (Mt) annually (Geyer et al., 2017), while estimates of microplastics – plastics smaller than 5 mm in size – in the oceans continue to rise (Isobe et al., 2021).
Synthetic turf used in sports fields – NSW EPA
The design and use of synthetic turf on community sporting fields and any environmental impacts are assessed as part of the planning process under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Turf it out – Is it time to say good bye to artificial grass?
It’s neat, easy – and a staggering £2bn global market. But as plastic grass takes over our cities, some say that it’s green only in colour
NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
An Act to conserve threatened species, populations and ecological communities of animals and plants; to amend the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and certain other Acts; to repeal the Endangered Fauna (Interim Protection) Act 1991; and for other purposes. [Assented to 22 December 1995]
Endangered Ecological Communities in Ku-ring-gai – Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest
STIF is protected as an Endangered Ecological Community, under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and a Critically Endangered Ecological Community under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.