The UK Government has allocated GBP 1.7 million plus vital partner support to kick-start a new research project for the processing of end-of-life synthetic turf.
By: Newsdesk
Like in most other countries, the UK has hardly any company that processes end-of-life synthetic turf. According to a factsheet compiled by the EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC), Sportex in Scotland is the only company that has been registered to do so. The fact that their plant is in Scotland, means that the reclaimed synthetic turf has to be transported over a long distance, making it difficult for the processing to be viable.
Loughborough University estimates that the UK has approximately 250 million sqm of polymeric surfaces. Some 52% of these surfaces are synthetic turf. Of the 250 million sqm., some 30 million sqm reach their end-of-life each year with only 10% being recycled appropriately.
With organisations such as Sport England setting ambitious targets for 100% approved recycling capacity by 2028, there is growing urgency to develop viable national solutions.
The three-year ‘ReSurface’ project aims to deliver a UK-wide recycling solution in which end-of-life synthetic turf, and synthetic turf football surfaces in particular, is fully recycled in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. The project group plans to develop effective separation processes and improved shredded carpet and shock pad separation, identify and pilot viable high value products, create a holistic environmental and economic model and formulate an optimised UK-wide recycling solution. All findings will be disseminated to inform standards, procurement processes, and industry and academic audiences.
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New technologies and systems
The project is led by Professor Steph Forrester from Loughborough University’s Sports Technology Institute, in collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland and key partners across the sports, recycling and policy sectors, including Sport England.
Forrester said: “Synthetic turf has transformed access to sport, but we now face a growing end-of-life issue. Today, most of these surfaces are not recycled, creating significant environmental challenges. ReSurface will develop the technologies and systems needed to change that, turning a complex waste problem into a circular, sustainable solution for the UK and beyond.”
Loughborough University has already started recruiting two Postdoctoral Research Associates for this project.
Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director for Strategy at EPSRC said: “This investment reflects our commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable UK economy. By funding ambitious, collaborative and impactful research into recycling technologies, we are helping to tackle some of the most complex challenges in our waste system, from collection through to currently hard-to-recycle material recovery. The research being undertaken, which is jointly funded by EPSRC and Defra, will support the long-term transition to a circular economy and create the conditions for genuine economic and environmental benefit for the UK.”
Various partners involved
The project is spearheaded by Loughborough University and has the support of Sport England, The Football Foundation, FIFA, SAPCA, ESTC, Sportex, TenCate Grass, Fieldturf, Trocellen and Murfitts. All companies will be represented in a steering group as well as contributing to some of the subcommittees.
Companies like Sportex, TenCate Grass, Fieldturf, Trocellen and Murfitts will all contribute by submitting samples. Sportex and TenCate Grass will also open up their plants to the study group.
UK-wide infrastructure model
A second path in the study aims to combine the life-cycle analysis (LCA) with life-cycle cost (LCC) for synthetic turf both at plant-scale as well as UK-wide. It will compare centralised vs distributed recycling networks and optimise cost, logistics, carbon and capacity.
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