Have you noticed those patches of what looks like green carpeting popping up all over the place recently — in city medians and around government buildings? Artificial turf or plastic grass is almost certainly coming to a street near you soon.
That’s because a California state deadline to stop watering “nonfunctional turf” with potable water is now looming, and people are scrambling to figure out an alternative.
Before you start panicking about your own lawn (if you still have one), a reassuring note is that the law — Assembly Bill 1572 — does not apply to individual private gardens. But it does apply to government property starting next January, commercial property starting in 2028 and HOAs in 2029.
What does this mean? The implications are beginning to emerge. Many local governments, commercial companies and HOAs are choosing artificial turf, even though the legislation doesn’t mention it as a recommended alternative.
Before rolling out some convenient rolls of artificial grass, there are a few things to consider.
Of course, it costs more to install than real grass — but what about the water-saving costs? Well, plastic grass does collect dirt, so it has to be washed down to prevent bacterial buildup. It also gets hot, much hotter than grass, which tends to cool things down.
So a large expanse of it creates what’s known as a “heat island.” You know the difference between walking over a concrete parking lot in the heat of the day and walking over a patch of green grass? Plastic grass feels more like the concrete parking lot.
You have been noticing the heat recently, I suspect. There is a connection between that and the amount of greenhouse gases we are emitting. Plastic grass emits greenhouse gases rather than absorbing GHGs as natural grass does. As it ages, it breaks down, and those tiny green plastic blades become microplastics that ultimately wash into our water table, adding to the load of microplastics already threatening human health.
And when it is time to replace artificial turf — after less than a decade in many cases — plastic grass is unrecyclable, creating large mats of microplastics that add to our landfills.
So for those who don’t like how hot it’s getting, it’s worth taking a moment to look into alternatives to replace “nonfunctional turf.” It might be a tree, mulched shrubs or even gravel. Even that is better than plastic grass! I see a future research project for someone here.
There is also the possibility of converting to recycled water to keep your natural grass. The San Diego County Water Authority has a list of what it calls “The Nifty 50”: low-water-use plants that attract butterflies and pollinators, many of which are threatened because we are eliminating their home habitats.
There is also a growing movement to replace “functional turf” — i.e., playing fields — with artificial turf because plastic grass doesn’t get as torn up by constant use. Oceanside is considering this. Carlsbad and Vista already have. That is disturbing because it creates bigger heat islands and threatens athletes’ health as it heats up and creates burns complicated by bacteria.
The NFL Players Association has called for a ban.
Whether it is your local sidewalk median or your kids’ playing field, take the time to appreciate any fresh green natural grass still growing — it is becoming a luxury! And if you have anything to say about what should replace it, find an alternative to plastic grass.
Alison St John Inglis retired after 30 years in San Diego public broadcasting, working as an anchor, reporter, producer and host for KPBS radio and television. She continues to work as a freelance journalist.
