Committee hears bill to track artificial turf life cycle; sponsor seeks chain-of-custody and DEM inventory

Senator Valverde told the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture that her bill would establish a chain-of-custody system for artificial turf fields so owners must report installation, composition, replacement, and disposal details to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Valverde said the typical outdoor artificial turf field averages about 80,000 square feet and produces large volumes of waste when replaced; testimony included an 8-to-10-year expected lifespan and a description of infill materials, the most common being crumb rubber from shredded tires.

Valverde referenced a Yale study finding hundreds of chemical agents in crumb rubber infill, some with carcinogenic characteristics, and said plastic turf blades break down into microplastics that can be washed into waterways. The bill would require DEM to create and publish an inventory of outdoor artificial turf fields to reduce instances of improper disposal and dumping.

Committee members asked about motivations for municipalities choosing artificial turf over natural sod (resilience, standardized playing surface, and perceived lower maintenance), possible injury rates on older fields, cost of replacement and disposal, and whether other states have moved to restrict or phase out turf. Valverde said the bill could be a first step toward regulatory approaches used in other jurisdictions, including phased transitions considered in parts of the European Union and in proposed U.S. legislation.

The committee did not adopt the bill during the hearing; the transcript records that the committee "moved to hold the bill at this time," indicating members want additional information and potential amendments before formal action.