Separating Fact from Fiction on Artificial Turf and Recycled Rubber Infill
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Today’s sports calendars are packed. School sports and travel teams often train for months out of the year, and in many communities, they are competing for time and space on a limited number of fields.
When weather forces field closures, administrators are left scrambling to reschedule games and practices and make the most of limited capacity. Already, there is a tight squeeze.Athletic Directors in recent years have turned to artificial turf with recycled rubber infill to try to address the field crunch and provide fields that remain playable after it rains.
Synthetic fields that use recycled rubber infill are growing in popularity. Here’s what you need to know about the science, safety, and performance of these surfaces.
How do accessible and high-quality athletic fields help communities?
Most importantly, the fields allow teams to play even after it rains. While grass fields might be closed for days, turf fields can reopen minutes after a storm passes.
Meanwhile, athletic fields that are consistently available are also an economic boon for communities, attracting regional tournaments and ensuring that fields have the capacity to host a wide variety of events.
Brown County in Wisconsin, for example, is replacing old grass soccer fields with turf. The local youth soccer organization, Wisconsin United FC, projected 1,300 additional hotel stays and an economic impact of more than $3.2 million annually, a result of expanded tourism and soccer tournaments.
The increased opportunities for play have proven essential for high schools, colleges, and universities.
Is recycled rubber safe to use?
Yes. There is an extensive body of research studying the use of recycled rubber in parks, playgrounds, and playing fields. Most recently, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) completed an eight-year-long report earlier this year.
The researchers looked at players, coaches, referees, and spectators, across all ages, analyzing the potential health impacts from the use of turf fields with recycled rubber infill. After extensive testing, they found “no significant health risk” for those using the fields.
“This study should ease concerns about the safety of crumb rubber use in synthetic turf fields,” said OEHHA Director Kris Thayer. “Athletes of all ages can use these fields without parents worrying about this commonly used material.”
OEHHA’s report builds on the 2024 joint study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Center for Disease Control, which found that exposures from recycled rubber are “likely limited.”
These findings follow years of research from around the world that came to similar conclusions. Put simply, independent researchers have looked at this issue extensively and found no significant risks.
How many days a year are fields closed as a result of inclement weather?
The short answer is we don’t know precisely. There is limited public data available to track this on an annual basis.
The Better Play Initiative recently looked to close this gap in western Washington state, a region that is often affected by rain. We used NOAA data to track rainfall in 12 counties, pairing it with a model for how often communities close fields. The results were staggering. Some counties lost an estimated 70-plus days due to rain. Fall and spring were particularly affected.
These findings potentially underestimate the impact of rain on grass fields. Standing water can cause multiple days of closures and cancellations.
What role does recycled rubber infill play in turf fields?
Recycled rubber infill helps cushion turf fields, keep the synthetic grass in place, and provide a smoother, more consistent surface. Compared to grass, these fields perform well through inclement weather and maintain a consistent quality, with minimal maintenance.
Is this material environmentally sustainable long-term?
Yes. Recycled rubber used in turf can be recycled at the end of its lifespan, creating a circular and sustainable manufacturing process.
In addition, with simple containment measures, localities are able to keep the infill from escaping playing areas at a high rate. Strategies include installing small barriers around the field and brushing stations as players exit. A pair of European studies found that these measures significantly limit dispersal in the environment.
The bottom line: communities deserve fields that can keep up with high demand, inclement weather, and increasingly packed calendars. Recycled rubber infill helps schools, parks, and athletic programs maximize limited space, reduce disruptions, and provide a consistent, accessible playing surface with minimal maintenance.
To learn more, visit the Better Play Initiative website and follow us on LinkedIn.
© The Better Play Initiative
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