We've just had a plastic lawn put in. AMA

[Imdunfer]

As title.

If you're going to raise climate issues please make sure you have your facts right before you post. There is a lot of incorrect PR and social media comment about plastic turf going around at the moment.

Why?

lol, you want us not to refer to the heavy carbon footprint, the fact it takes about 15 years to degrade, usually in landfill, the fact it kills eco systems , sheds micro plastics , and contains harmful chemicals and heavy metals that can be absorbed by human skin or ingested by children or animals.

oh and avoid that it always always looks like plastic grass up close I assume?

Are you worried about fumes from the plastic heating up in the sun. And are you worried about the resulting microplastics in your immediate environment and eventually the broader environment (eg if they wash into waterways in the rain and eventually the sea)?

What was your decision making process?

I was going to post, but the first 3 replies said exactly what I was going to say

Plastic lawn. Who the fuck invented these things 😖

It looks ugly and is obvious. Why?

Are you going to add some plastic flowers to complete the look?

I cannot think of a single good reason why you would do this apart from the utterly selfish reason that it’s “low maintenance”.

If you don’t like grass you should move into a flat without a garden.

We moved into a house with one and I am DESPERATE to get rid of it. We have a dog so it stinks, it’s boiling underfoot in the heat and I won’t let DD play on it. It’s so much money to get rid of though so we’re stuck with it for now

@Imdunfer

Do you consider the World Wildlife Federation's concerns about fake grass to be PR or social media comment?
https://www.wwf.org.uk/articles/artificial-grass-and-its-impact

Come on then? Why?

I’d be embarrassed. You might as well fly a flag saying ‘we have no taste’ while you’re at it.

How to you feel about plastic pollution, soil life, environmental impact? I tend to think those with plastic grass are a bit thick. Am I right?

When we were viewing properties to move we discounted any with large expanses of fake grass for these exact reasons. Awful stuff.

Are you a masochist?

Also the North London Waste Authority
https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/latest/turf-or-not-turf-why-artificial-grass-wasteful

Why on earth would you want a plastic lawn? Can't see any good reason to have one.

Why?

Won't touch the environmental stuff, but I've yet to see one that doesn't look shite, even the 'high end' ones. It would hurt my soul to look out upon my garden and see it. I can't imagine wanting to actually sit out in it on a nice day.

My question is why aren’t they banned?

Have you burnt your feet on it in the sunshine?

If you’ve you’ve replaced actual turf with astroturf, I think you’re about to get flamed and rightly so.

Why? They don't look good, even when they're freshly installed. Nevermind after a couple of years of wear and tear.

What happens to it when it rains heavily? How does it drain? Does the water pool on it or does it have some sort of membrane for the water to disperse back into the soil beneath? Is it scratchy to the touch? I can remember my son’s friend sliding on football on an artificial pitch and getting a really terrible burn from it. Is it the same stuff?

Congrats, you've just knocked £5k off the value of your house.

After the recent hot spell, my neighbour's fake grass smelt awful. Vaguely petrolly. Did you find the same OP?

If I couldn't manage a lawn or just didn't want one I'd get it all flaged and put large earthenware tubs with flowers and bushes in .
At least that way I'm not adding yo all the plastic in the environment and it's easier to clean.