Environmentalist Urges Halt to New 3G Pitch Installations in Jersey

An environmental advocate has urged against the installation of additional 3G pitches in Jersey. Nigel Jones stated that increasing evidence suggests the rubber crumb, which serves as the top layer on these pitches to replicate natural grass traction, may lead to health issues and contaminate rivers and waterways. The Government of Jersey commented: “We fully support the potential use of more sustainable alternatives to rubber infill.” The Synthetic Turf Council, an industry organization, refuted claims of risk associated with European-sourced rubber infill, asserting that a prohibition would severely impact sports facilities. This development follows a report from the University of Stirling, which recommended that crumb rubber be “phased out”. Sport England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and various other sporting organizations issued a joint statement recognizing worries regarding the environmental effects of 3G pitches. The statement read: “These have mostly related to microplastics in the form of rubber infill getting into the ecosystem and the need for greater focus on the end-of-life recycling of pitches.” Mr. Jones urged the public to “take a stand” concerning this matter. He commented, “If this stuff is causing these harms then we have to stop using them.” Professor Andrew Watterson of the University of Stirling stated: “You can absorb the crumb through the skin. You can ingest it or you could inhale it.” He added, “There may be more and more problems linked to these exposures.” The European Union passed a vote to prohibit rubber crumb infill in sports pitches by 2031; however, neither the UK government nor the Scottish government has adopted similar measures. David Kennedy of Sport Jersey noted that 3G pitches are extensively used across the island. He acknowledged, “There’s obviously some concerns round about the impact of 3G pitches.” Kennedy continued, “I think we will always balance it with the impact 3G pitches have on sport in the community and the health of our island because currently the stock of 3G pitches that we have provides hundreds of hours for thousands of islanders each week.” The Jersey FA plans to construct two new 3G pitches by 2028 as part of its football development strategy, though it remains uncertain at this point whether these will feature a rubber crumb surface. Tim Pryor, chief executive of the Jersey FA, stated that artificial pitches would reduce the frequency of postponed matches. He explained, “We know that local clubs struggle to get training slots on the current non-grass facilities, at the likes of Springfield Stadium, Haute Vallee, and Oakfield.” Pryor added, “They are heavily used particularly in the evenings, which is a positive, but we need to improve the availability of training facilities so we can get more people playing.” He further stated, “We also want to reduce the number of matches postponed because of waterlogged grass pitches in bad weather.” “New 3G pitches would allow us to play match after match after match, even after weeks of rain,” Pryor concluded. He emphasized, “Lack of access to good-quality pitches can be one of the biggest barriers to playing football.” Stefan Diderich, chief executive at EMEA Synthetic Turf Council, commented: “We fully support the use of sustainable alternatives to granular rubber infill, with a number of natural infills such as cork, processed olive stones and wood chip already available on today’s market.” The Government of Jersey also expressed support for alternatives to rubber infill, stating: “Further studies will need to be thoroughly explored with regards to their viability.” It added, “It is important to note that EU studies show good pitch management and design can reduce rubber crumb infill loss by 98%.”