Why Artificial Grass Is Bad for the Environment

The last few years have seen a boom in artificial grass sales, with many homeowners seeking to try this low-maintenance alternative to natural grass thanks to its perceived benefits. But is all as it seems? 

The team here at SCS Waste is here to explore the impact that artificial grass has on the environment.

What is artificial grass?

As the name suggests, artificial grass is a surface made entirely from synthetic, man-made fibres that are designed to replicate the look of natural grass. The idea is that it offers all the aesthetic benefits of real grass without any of the mowing, mud or maintenance involved. It’s often used in domestic gardens or as a surface for sports pitches.

Why artificial grass is bad for the environment

At a time when we should be trying to reduce our plastic consumption, artificial grass seems like a step backwards. Over time, thanks to wear and weather damage, artificial grass fibres can break down into microplastics which bleed into the soil and then can make their way into the waterways. Not only does this potentially contaminate water sources, but it can also harm wildlife.

Often, natural grass is removed to make way for an artificial lawn. While a living lawn absorbs CO₂, releases oxygen and provides a habitat for insects and other wildlife, artificial grass does nothing of the sort and can actually disrupt local ecosystems. 

How to remove artificial grass

If you’ve had a change of heart and you’d like to remove artificial grass from your garden, this is easy enough to do. Once you’ve donned some gloves and clothing that you don’t mind getting a little messy, you’ll need to cut the lawn into smaller and more manageable pieces using a Stanley knife.

Then, remove any pegs or stakes that might be securing the grass and pull the turf up with your hands. To make disposal easier, you can roll this up as you would do a carpet. Continue doing this until all the turf is removed; you may then be left with a base layer of aggregates or membrane which you’ll have to scoop up with a shovel.

How to dispose of artificial grass

So you’ve just removed your artificial grass, but how exactly do you get rid of it? To minimise environmental impact, it’s essential to dispose of your artificial grass correctly. However, this can be tricky as, due to the combination of different materials that artificial grass is made from, many skip hire companies may refuse to take it or will only do so for an extortionate fee.

That’s not a problem when you work with SCS Waste, as we accept artificial grass in all our skips. So if you’re revamping your garden, there’s no need to stress about having to make multiple trips to the tip – we’ll ensure you can dispose of all soil, garden waste and fake grass in one place to make the process stress-free. What’s more, thanks to our state-of-the-art recycling centre, we’re committed to diverting as much waste away from landfill as possible. This means you can rest assured that your artificial grass is being disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

 

Are you looking to hire a skip when you take on your next landscaping project? For more than 20 years, the team at SCS Waste has been supplying skips to domestic and commercial customers across Arundel, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and beyond. With a range of skip hire options and same and next-day delivery available, we can accommodate any job.

To find out more, contact our friendly team today.