We are Ithaca’s Zero Waste enthusiasts. All-volunteer and grassroots. Helping make Ithaca a Zero Waste City. 🔥
Artificial Turf
Zero Waste Ithaca leads the campaign against Cornell University’s synthetic turf expansion, advocating for PFAS-free, plastic-free playing fields and transparent environmental review. Below you’ll find our press releases, media coverage, webinar resources, scientific references, and ongoing legal actions.
See our latest press releases on our two lawsuits against Cornell University and City and Town of Ithaca Planning Boards published on February 11, 2025 (for Meinig Fieldhouse synthetic turf fields) and November 10, 2025 (for Game Farm Road field hockey synthetic turf field).
Webinar
In response to Cornell University’s plan of installing more synthetic turf fields in our community, we organized a webinar in April, 2024, inviting six experts – scientists and attorneys – from around the country. It was well received, with over 320 registrants.
We are happy to share that the webinar recording helped defeat the proposed plan for artificial turf field in a school district in Middleton, WI.
This op-ed addresses the environmental dangers posed by synthetic turf, particularly its contribution to microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. The article connects microplastics to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Cayuga Lake, noting that microplastics can act as platforms for harmful organisms such as cyanobacteria. It critiques Cornell University’s decision to install synthetic turf fields despite public opposition and presents data from a Toronto study identifying synthetic turf as a leading source of microplastic emissions. The author emphasizes the broader environmental justice concerns tied to artificial turf, linking it to toxic waste, fossil fuel interests, and public health risks. Key focus areas include the intersection of synthetic turf, microplastics, and toxic pollutants, such as PFAS, in regional waterways.
This letter to the editor highlights the concerns surrounding Cornell University’s synthetic turf installation project, particularly focusing on the lack of transparency regarding potential health and environmental risks. The author, an intramural athlete and Vice President of Cornell Environmental Collaborative, criticizes the underreporting of rally attendance by university’s student press, the university’s questionable claims about the safety of plant-based and PFAS-free turf, and the lack of adequate information provided to student-athletes. The letter calls for more education on synthetic turf risks and urges the university and the planning board to prioritize community engagement and student health.
Artificial turf fields, essentially vast plastic surfaces with tiny plastic infills and breakable plastic blades, have a series of concerning issues, including microplastic and PFAS contamination.
Pollution throughout Plastic Lifecycle: During use, artificial turf shed microplastics. At the end of its life, they significantly contribute to practically unrecyclable plastic waste at the end of their life.
Plastic pollution occurs throughout its lifecycle, from extraction, manufacturing, transportation, in use, to disposal, making plastics a significant climate factor.
Synthesizing toxic artificial turf grass made of plastics contributes to significant air and water pollution during the synthesis processes and generates hazardous waste, further exacerbating environmental justice issue in affected communities. See Dr. Neil Carman and Jeff Gearhart‘s presentations in our webinar held on April 30, 2024 for more.
Toxicity and PFAS Contamination:These turf fields contain PFAS, notoriously known as “forever chemicals,” which pose an imminent threat to water systems and endanger both human health and ecosystems. And the toxicity of plastic grass is not limited to PFAS.
Claims to “PFAS-free” turf fields are not based in science. PFAS are not only present in infill crumbs, but also in blades. See our 2025 lab test reports of Cornell’s “infill-free, PFAS-free” turf with full chain of custody record, as well as our bibliography section listing independent testings by our allies.
Also hear the testimony of Amy Griffin, the former University of Washington soccer coach, about players who fell ill playing on synthetic turfs in our webinar held on April 30, 2024.
Environmental Justice Concerns: Cities like Dalton, GA, “the carpet capital of the world,” receives the brunt of this toxic contamination. See Dr. Neil Carman‘s presentations in our webinar held on April 30, 2024 about the environmental justice communities around plastic production and recycling facilities in the Houston, Texas area, for more.
Environmental Conflict: Covering living natural grass field with enormous, toxic plastic turf made of fossil fuel squarely conflicts with Ithaca’s environmental values and goals.
Disposal: Artificial turf must be replaced every 8-10 years, often abandoned in fields or stockpiled in warehouses. Plastic recycling is a contaminating process – especially chemical recycling, pushed by the industry as a “green” solution.
In December 2022, our first campaign against the installation of toxic artificial turf started at Ithaca College. Despite our earnest attempts to engage with the college and the launch of an online petition with Ithaca College students, we found ourselves in a disheartening situation, as the College administration remained unresponsive. The Conservation Board of the Town of Ithaca also wrote a letter expressing opposition to its Planning Board; however, the Planning Board approved Ithaca College’s plan with only one dissenting voice.
Local media outlets such as Ithaca Times, Tompkins Weekly,Ithaca Voice, and WHCU covered our protests. The Ithaca Times conducted a poll revealing that over 85% of Ithacans oppose the installation of artificial turf.
Cornell University unveiled a new $55M fieldhouse plan in late 2023 to introduce two additional artificial turf fields to their campus and they revealed their additional plan to create a sports complex in two meadows near East Hill Plaza on Game Farm Road with a plan for several synthetic turf in their “Long Range Vision” plan, bringing the total of synthetic turf fields to staggering eleven on Cornell’s upstream campus.
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board wrote a letter to the Planning Boards questioning the plan. The documents furnished by a consulting firm Haley & Aldrich hired by Cornell University dismisses all the concerns raised by the Conservation Board, public comments made by our group members. and by our allies. The consulting firm has ties with multinational corporations with questionable environmental track records such as BP and Boeing and creates industry echo chamber by making references to other consulting firms’ reports justifying artificial turf. Read more about their false report in our bibliography.
The Cornell representative’s document cites a study by the Washington State Department of Health as the source of authority which was already critiqued and debunked by experts. See the letter by Dr. Klapp and Brown as well as a critical news coverage, all of which were submitted to the planning board as public comments. The document prepared by Cornell’s hired consulting firm also makes false claims about plastic turf’s recyclability and their synthetic turf fields as “PFAS-free” without substantial evidences. In fact, our 2025 independent tests at three accredited laboratories proved that Cornell University’s “PFAS-free” claim of their turf field is false.
Since February 2024, we have consistently participated in public meetings and hearings, voiced our concerns at several frustrating town and city planning board meetings, and submitted written comments and resources. We also gathered over 1,200 signatures for our petition, which was submitted to the Cornell University administration and planning boards (view the petition here ). We never received a response. On September 3, 2024, we held a rally co-sponsored by ten local and national organizations, generating media coverage from Ithaca Times, Ithaca Voice, The Ithacan, and WSKG. Despite our efforts, the city planning board issued a negative declaration for environmental impact assessment during the meeting on September 3, ignoring the overwhelming evidence and public opposition. The meeting was further overshadowed by the presence of 100 Cornell student-athletes, led by Cornell’s athletic directors and coaches, who effectively silenced our community’s voice. This is a flagrant dismissal of the serious concerns expressed by the local community. See the photos below. We encountered the same situation for the approval at the town planning board meeting for Game Farm Road field hockey field, with even Cornell President in attendance.
We filed two Article 78 lawsuits for both synthetic turf projects at Cornell University in 2024 and 2025. Both cases are ongoing as of November 10, 2025.
Cass Park
In June 2023, we reached out to the City of Ithaca regarding Cass Park’s draft master plan, which references a turf field in section 2.0. Tim Logue, the Director of Engineering Services of the City of Ithaca, and Administrative Associate Sheila Squier of Friends of Ithaca Youth Bureau, provided the following response:
“There are no plans at this time to move forward with installing a turf field. Please keep in mind that the plan is comprehensive and expensive, and will likely take many years and phases to implement any recommendations that the City decides to adopt.”
We must remain vigilant and urge the city council and the county legislature to ban the plastic grass.
Ithaca City School District
Ithaca High School already has a synthetic turf field. The Ithaca City School District employed the consulting firm Tetra Tech, which also provided the report referenced by Cornell’s Haley & Aldridge to justify their artificial turf projects. Notably, this same report was rejected by a town in Martha’s Vineyard, which has since moved towards a ban on synthetic turf. For more details, please see our bibliography.
Our Local Call to Action
We call upon our city council and county legislature to endorse the prohibition of artificial turf installation and the removal of existing artificial turf at the end of its typical 10-year lifespan.
City and State Legislation
NYS ASSEMBLY APRIL 27, 2022
MR. ENGLEBRIGHT: It would not — it would not affect rugs. You know, area rugs. Wall-to-wall installations are what this basically is contemplating. MR. SMULLEN: And — and commercial activities, turf fields that are being changed over to artificial turf? MR. ENGLEBRIGHT: They are included. MR. SMULLEN: So for instance, if a school district had put in an artificial turf field, would they have to replace it? MR. ENGLEBRIGHT: They don’t have to replace it. It’s prospective. But, you know, when — when they put in a new field and then they decide after it’s worn out to, you know, to change it over it would have to comply with this — this measure, yes.
Currently, a bill, New York State Senate, Senate Bill S3797 is under consideration to implement a moratorium on the installation of artificial turf for the 2025-2026 legislative session. However, this bill falls short as it neglects to include vital research on known carcinogens such as PFAS, benzothiazoles, chlorinated paraffins, 1,3-diphenylguanidine, (methoxymethyl) melamines (MBT’s), octylphenolethoxylates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), VOC’s, latex, and other established carcinogens. We urge you to reach out to your representatives and encourage them to amend and pass a more robust bill.
New York State Assembly Bill A8269 to prohibit the sale and installation of certain playground equipment and ground covering which contains recycled tires, as well as New York State Senate Bill S4693 / A6206 to provide for a public health study by the Department of Health on the installation of synthetic turf are also under consideration. These were for the 2023-2024 legislative session. We will update when the bill numbrs for the 2025-2026 legislative session becomes available.
The New York City Council introduced Int 1202-2025, in February 2025, “Prohibiting the installation of artificial grass in city parks.” The bill would prohibit the NYC Parks Commissioner from installing artificial grass in NYC parks, with an exception for repairing or reconstructing artificial grass installed prior to the bill’s effective date. Prime sponsor: Council Member Christopher Marte. Committee: Parks and Recreation.
In a related development, California passed a law in October 2023 that permits cities and counties to impose bans on artificial turf once again, reversing the previous prohibition put in place during a period when artificial turf was considered a water-saving measure amidst severe droughts. Since then, Millbrane and San Marino already banned new installation of artificial turf, and multiple municipalities in Sunnyvale are also considering the ban in California as of February, 2024.
Outside of California, there are dozens of municipalities and states that are working on bans and moratoriums. See the list here.
How You Can Help:
Get Involved: Join our grassroots organization or volunteer for upcoming events and rallies. Participate in public meetings with us. Your support helps amplify our efforts and push for meaningful change. Fill out this form to get involved.
Support Our Campaign: Join our petition against the synthetic turf installation. Your signature can help demonstrate the community’s opposition and strengthen our efforts. Sign the Petition. Donate to our grassroots organization.
Spread the Word: Share information about the issue with friends, family, and social media networks. Write op-eds for our local media.
Report Concerns: If you are aware of any environmental issues related to synthetic turf in your area, report them to local environmental authorities and share your findings with us at info@zerowasteithaca.org.
Stay Informed
To share information and get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@zerowasteithaca.org.
