Thanks to everyone who emailed the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors regarding the artificial turf ordinance. Unfortunately, the Supervisors voted 3-2 to reject the ordinance. Please use the form below this blog to email the two Supervisors who voted in favor (Otto Lee and Margaret Abe-Koga) to thank them!

Artificial Turf Ordinance Rejected by Board of Supervisors

On Tuesday, January 28, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors considered adopting a partial ban on artificial turf. This ban would have applied only to property owned by the County – not to any sports fields owned by schools or city parks, or to privately owned homes or businesses. In addition, the ordinance included an exemption for County-owned land where an existing lease requires the continued use of artificial turf. It also would only have banned new installation or replacement of artificial turf – it would not have required removal of existing turf.

Nevertheless, the artificial turf industry mounted a huge opposition campaign, and many parents and advocates for youth sports spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting to oppose the ordinance due to fears that restricting artificial turf would result in reduced playing time on sports fields. In spite of the fact that hundreds of people signed petitions, spoke at the Board meeting, and emailed the Supervisors (including over 320 people who sent emails through Green Foothills’ website) to ask them to approve the ordinance, it failed on a 3-2 vote.

Why It Matters

Artificial turf can be more accurately described as “plastic grass.” The plastic material degrades over time, creating microplastics that are washed into storm drains and out into the ocean where they impact marine species. And the chemicals used in artificial turf are known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down. Artificial turf has the dubious distinction of being something that will linger on this planet forever. Considering that as a playing surface, artificial turf only lasts 8-10 years before it must be hauled to a landfill and replaced, that is a very short usable lifespan compared to the millions of years this product will stay in our environment.

Artificial turf is not even a superior playing surface. It results in more player injuries than natural grass fields, and it reaches temperatures during hot days that make it hazardous to use. As climate change accelerates, there will be more and more days of extreme heat, meaning there will be more and more days when artificial turf playing fields will be unusable. Supervisor Otto Lee’s office has created an FAQ on artificial turf with more information.

What You Can Do

The Supervisors who voted in favor of the ordinance were Board President Otto Lee and Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, with Vice-President Sylvia Arenas and Supervisors Betty Duong and Susan Ellenberg voting against. Please use the form below to email Otto Lee and Margaret Abe-Koga to thank them for supporting the ordinance.