COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 08, 2024

QUESTION NO. 37

QUESTION: Councillor J. Spear

To ask the Chief Executive if all-weather pitches planned for installation will include microplastic containing infill materials which have been banned in the EU from September 2031 because of their impact on nature and potential risk of cancer?

REPLY:

Synthetic surfaces are recognised as a durable, safe, year-round playing surfaces, able to withstand intensive use. These pitches are used primarily for Gaelic Games, Soccer, Rugby, and Hockey. They are also an important community resource enabling more people to benefit from participation in sport and physical activity. A properly maintained synthetic surface can sustain 70- 80 hours of use a week; this compares favourably to a high quality natural turf pitch, which can sustain between seven-nine hours a week. This means many more people can engage in sport and physical activity regardless of the weather when otherwise matches/training would be cancelled.

However, concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of these pitches. Specifically, pollution resulting from the migration of micro-plastics (i.e., rubber crumb infill). In 2023 the European Commission completed the adoption of the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) rules on the sale of intentionally added microplastics onto the European market, which includes rubber infill for synthetic surfaces. The Commission has confirmed an eight-year transition period before the new restriction becomes effective (ending October 2031). The ruling does not prevent the continued use of this material for synthetic surfaces, nor does it prevent the construction of new pitches with rubber crumb infill before 2031 – but it will make the maintenance of these pitches significantly challenging once the transition period has ended. The transition period allows synthetic surfaces (with rubber infill) that are in widespread use by communities across Europe, to continue to be used and maintained until they reach their end-of-life. 

SDCC, in the delivery of its own 3G / Artificial Grass Pitch programme, provide multi sport facilities, primarily for GAA and Soccer use, while also ensuring Rugby and other  sports can be facilitated where possible. To be used for competitive GAA and soccer matches as well as rugby, new pitches must comply with rules from the following Governing Bodies: - FIFA Quality Handbook of Requirements (2015) - World Rugby Regulation 22 (2016) - GAA Synthetic Turf Surfaces for Gaelic Games (2022). Certification has been achieved on the alternative options but more focus to date has been placed on FIFA Quality (Soccer standard) and World Rugby (rugby requirements) performance requirements. Less innovation on alternative infills has been carried out on GAA systems, however there are performance similarities to both the FIFA Quality and World Rugby systems. Some of the alternatives to rubber crumb are relatively new to the market, and while some data already exists, there is still much to learn about their performance, durability, availability, lifecycle cost, and the impact on player experience and safety. SDCC recognise that alternative infill products may require laboratory testing and certification and further input from National Governing Bodies to ensure they meet the appropriate standards.

The European Synthetic Turf Council is currently developing guidance on all types of infill materials, with a specific focus on non-polymeric infills that fall outside the scope of the planned new EU restriction. SDCC support the inclusion of natural sustainable infill material in place of plastic / rubber infill in new or replacement pitches, are committed to exploring alternative artificial pitch systems and more sustainable infill products.