Israeli Cities Move Away From Artificial Turf Due to Health and Environmental Concerns

Two Israeli municipalities, Kfar Saba and Herzliya, are planning to phase out artificial turf in favor of natural grass and other eco-friendly alternatives, citing health and environmental reasons. Kfar Saba's municipality was the first to announce its intention to remove plastic coverings to improve the city's ecology. Herzliya will join this initiative, with a plan to gradually replace all artificial grass surfaces with natural ones by 2027. The municipalities will no longer approve plastic grass in new construction projects or when renovating public parks, opting instead for plants suited to the local climate to support urban ecosystems. Herzliya plans to replace one hectare of artificial turf with natural grass. Mayor Yariv Fisher acknowledged that he himself had installed artificial turf at his home years ago but was inspired by his wife to make the change, citing concerns about heat, discomfort for children, and drainage issues during heavy rains. He stated that synthetic lawns are "unattractive, unpleasant, unhealthy, and most importantly, create big problems during rainy periods."

Artificial turf has become a contentious issue on social media, with many Israelis expressing opposition to synthetic surfaces. A complaint was raised on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the decision to install artificial turf at a dog park in Givatayim, contrasting it with other cities' moves away from such materials. The mayor of Givatayim, Ran Kunik, responded that the previous surface was sand, which also had issues, and that dog owners had requested the artificial turf. He asserted that the municipality is trying to fulfill residents' wishes and that natural grass is being planted throughout the city, with only a small portion of artificial turf used in specific safety-critical areas like fall-protection systems on playgrounds. He also noted that only two out of fifteen dog parks in Givatayim have artificial turf.

Research suggests that synthetic lawns, particularly in hot climates like Israel's, can release toxins when heated, potentially causing burns and contributing to environmental pollution through microplastic shedding. Lawyer Ortal Sanker, head of environmental justice at the organization "Adam, Teva V'Din" (Man, Nature, Law), highlighted that the heat and sun in Israel exacerbate the release of potentially carcinogenic substances from synthetic materials into the air, posing a particular risk in children's play areas. She criticized Israel's standards for such surfaces for not aligning with stricter European regulations, meaning children may be exposed to substances that do not meet current European requirements. A year prior, environmental organizations sent a letter to government ministers demanding a ban on artificial grass in educational institutions, playgrounds, and public parks. The Ministry of Economy stated that natural alternatives need to be assessed for compliance with playground requirements, while the Ministry of Health indicated that all surfacing types have pros and cons and that, based on available information, there is no immediate health threat from contact with artificial turf.