Newton replaced the artificial turf fields at Newton South High School last year and is in the process of replacing the field at Newton North High School. The City has promised that the old material would be recycled and reused by the company that removed the tons of plastic grass and fill material, but questions remain, as it is nearly impossible to be certain what happens after it is taken away. Opponents of artificial turf in Newton remain skeptical that it will truly be recycled. To know for certain would require a third party certification system where disinterested inspectors verify the true end destination of the material.
The Boston Globe published an article on July 18, 2024 about another community that is dealing with the question of what happens to the mounds of plastic once it leaves the community.
Read “Tons of Abandoned Artificial Turf Raises Questions About Recycling Promises.” (Requires a subscription.)
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