Cornell University and the city of Ithaca, New York are sued over their use of synthetic turf for sports. Zero Waste Ithaca, a volunteer organization aiming to make Ithaca a zero-waste city, claims that the surface produces microplastic pollution and exposes people to carcinogenic chemicals.

The lawsuit, developed in collaboration with the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic (PELC) at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, challenges the Ithaca Planning Board’s decision to issue a Negative Declaration for the project. The lawsuit argues that the board ignored substantial evidence and failed to meet the State Environmental Quality Review’s (SEQR) requirements for transparency and accountability.

A representative of Zero Waste Ithaca claims that “synthetic turf is like an invasive species, spreading relentlessly and causing harm.” The group has compiled a variety of reasons to support its claim.

“Cornell’s continued investment in these fields, despite overwhelming evidence of their harm to human health and the environment, is a betrayal of their responsibility to students, athletes, and the community,” he continued.