Can I Recycle Artificial Grass?
Today, it's more important than ever to think sustainably when investing in new products. Due to its high quality and durability, artificial grass lasts for many years, all whilst retaining its pristine appearance. However, nothing lasts forever! Many people wonder what to do with their artificial turf once it has finally reached the end of its life, and how they can remain environmentally conscious whilst doing so.
Whilst technology is still developing ways to make synthetic materials such as these fully recyclable, we're here to share some simple ways in which you can keep sustainable at the end of your synthetic turf’s lifespan.
Recycling
The best way to be environmentally friendly is to recycle materials when they reach the end of their life. Artificial grass is no different! The first step in recycling your turf is to be aware of the materials it is made from. Mostly, artificial lawns consist of polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon, and all these materials are recyclable. However, they need to be carefully separated to go through the recycling process.
Luckily, technology is developing at recycling centres to be able to conduct this separation process. We recommend taking your old turf to your nearest recycling centre, and ensuring it is handled by a specialist in plastic recycling.
Lengthen its lifespan
Recycling your artificial turf is the ideal solution at the end of its life. However, how can you be sure that your turf is truly ready to be changed? Before even considering removing and recycling your turf, consider whether it may have some useful years left in it still. The recycling process itself uses energy and resources; therefore, prolonging the process for as long as possible is one of the easiest ways to keep it sustainable.
Opting for a quality provider will ensure that your artificial turf will last for as many years as possible. If you're moving into a new property, ensure to ask the previous owners how long the artificial grass has been down for. This way, you will have accurate knowledge of its lifespan and ensure you maximise its potential to last for as long as possible.
Repurposing
Whilst repurposing a product isn't the same as recycling, it is still more sustainable than simply throwing it out. There are many different uses to give to your old artificial grass. For example, you could repurpose a patch of the turf and use it in a shed or a garage. If you own rabbits or guinea pigs, why not give them a patch of your own turf to jazz up their home? If you've got young children, a fun activity could also be cutting your old turf into shapes and decorating a play area. The possibilities are endless!
Artificial grass lasts a long time, so hopefully you won’t have to deal with recycling it anytime soon. However, when the time comes, you should now have anything you need to know to recycle your artificial grass sustainably and efficiently.
