Motion to Phase out Artificial Turf in Los Angeles

Los Angeles City Council File: 24-0602  will assess alternatives & provide recommendations to prohibit new artificial turf installations and phase out existing turf installations citywide.

Artificial turf pollutes water, is a source of plastic pollution, and reduces watershed and climate resilience.

While artificial turf can seem like a quick and easy solution, its environmental impact has been misrepresented to consumers. Producing more landfill-bound plastic that pollutes water, increases urban heat, and offers no habitat is not eco-friendly. Touting artificial turf as “water saving” while it pollutes our waterways and beaches with microplastics and runoff is not an environmental trade-off we should encourage. 

By choosing plants, not plastic, we can build biodiversity in our communities while making them climate resilient for the future. 

The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program encourages the use of nature-based solutions to prevent urban runoff and create beautiful, sustainable, climate-resilient green spaces. Learn more about Ocean Friendly Gardens and find a chapter near you to get involved.