A new UK-wide initiative, co-led by the University of the West of Scotland, will look to find sustainable ways of recycling artificial sports pitches at the end of their lifespan.
The issue is becoming increasingly problematic, with millions of square metres of artificial turf being removed each year.
Known as ‘ReSurface’, the three-year, almost £1.3 million project will explore how the UK can build a more effective and environmentally responsible system for managing and recycling synthetic turf materials.
Existing recycling options remain limited, with many surfaces transported to specialist facilities far from where the pitches are installed. The resulting transport requirements increase costs and contribute to carbon emissions, while available processing capacity struggles to keep pace with demand.
As the sports sector looks to improve its environmental performance, organisations such as FIFA have highlighted the need for a fully developed recycling infrastructure capable of handling all end-of-life artificial turf by 2028.
This project will investigate new ways of recovering valuable materials from used pitches. Researchers will focus on separating the various elements that make up modern synthetic turf systems, such as infill materials, backing layers and plastics, while also identifying new commercial uses for the recycled outputs.
The project will also examine how a future recycling network could operate across the UK. By comparing different infrastructure models, the research team hopes to identify approaches that reduce environmental impact while remaining economically viable.
Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Defra, the project involves a consortium of organisations, led by academics at Loughborough University and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). The initiative also includes partners from the recycling industry, sports sector and policymaking community.
UWS’s involvement is coordinated by Dr Phillip Cowie and includes Dr Kiri Rodgers and Emeritus Professor Andrew Hursthouse.
Discussing the research, Dr Cowie said, “As artificial sports pitches continue to play an increasingly important role in supporting participation and physical activity across the UK, we must also address the environmental challenge created when these surfaces reach the end of their lifespan. Every year, millions of square metres of artificial turf are removed, yet recycling options remain limited and much of the material is difficult to recover and reuse. This project aims to tackle this problem.”
Professor Andrew Hursthouse added, “ReSurface is an exciting project bringing together leading expertise from academia, industry and policy to develop practical solutions that can transform how synthetic turf is managed at end of life. By creating new recycling technologies, identifying higher-value uses for recovered materials, and exploring the most effective national recycling infrastructure, we aim to support the transition to a truly circular approach that reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions and delivers long-term environmental benefits for the sports sector and beyond.”
