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TURF RUNDOWN
Recycled Glass used on Artificial Turf
The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), located in the UK, has been awarded funding worth more than £25,000 by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to carry out two sets of trials assessing the use of processed sand on artificial and winter sports pitches.
Processed sand, which is manufactured from 100% recycled glass, will be trialled as a material for the construction and maintenance of second and third generation artificial sports surfaces.
Using a medium-fine grade of processed sand, the STRI will test the pitches for ball rebound, traction, hardness, fibre integrity, force reduction and energy restitution. In order to assess these factors under realistic conditions, STRI will apply accelerated heavy wear using a differential slip wear machine at a rate of 40 matches per week.
The second trial will assess the performance of processed sand as a top dressing for football pitches. The STRI has linked up with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to carry out the trial on four of its football pitches. As part of the trial, the pitches’ playing and turf quality will be monitored and pitch users will be asked their opinions on the use of processed sand to see if playability is improved.
Andrew Owen, Soil Scientist at the STRI, comments: “After our initial trials looking at the potential of using processed sand on the golf course, we were keen to expand this research to other sports applications. Artificial sports surfaces are an area where processed sand might offer both players and groundsmen enhanced performance."
Bronnie Allen, WRAP’s Material Development Manager for Glass, comments: “We are delighted that funding has been awarded to the STRI, to further build on their invaluable research into processed sand’s viability in the sports turf sector. If similar results are found with artificial surfaces, the sports industry will have a high quality product which not only provides performance benefits but is a sustainable material which will provide the industry with a recycled alternative to quarried materials.”
Other operational trials will be carried out in looking at the performance of recycled glass in artificial sports turf, grit blasting, water filtration, brick fluxing, mortars, adhesives, cement repair products and cement blocks.
The Sports Turf Research Institute, www.stri.co.uk.
The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), located in the UK, has been awarded funding worth more than £25,000 by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to carry out two sets of trials assessing the use of processed sand on artificial and winter sports pitches.
Processed sand, which is manufactured from 100% recycled glass, will be trialled as a material for the construction and maintenance of second and third generation artificial sports surfaces.
Using a medium-fine grade of processed sand, the STRI will test the pitches for ball rebound, traction, hardness, fibre integrity, force reduction and energy restitution. In order to assess these factors under realistic conditions, STRI will apply accelerated heavy wear using a differential slip wear machine at a rate of 40 matches per week.
The second trial will assess the performance of processed sand as a top dressing for football pitches. The STRI has linked up with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to carry out the trial on four of its football pitches. As part of the trial, the pitches’ playing and turf quality will be monitored and pitch users will be asked their opinions on the use of processed sand to see if playability is improved.
Andrew Owen, Soil Scientist at the STRI, comments: “After our initial trials looking at the potential of using processed sand on the golf course, we were keen to expand this research to other sports applications. Artificial sports surfaces are an area where processed sand might offer both players and groundsmen enhanced performance."
Bronnie Allen, WRAP’s Material Development Manager for Glass, comments: “We are delighted that funding has been awarded to the STRI, to further build on their invaluable research into processed sand’s viability in the sports turf sector. If similar results are found with artificial surfaces, the sports industry will have a high quality product which not only provides performance benefits but is a sustainable material which will provide the industry with a recycled alternative to quarried materials.”
Other operational trials will be carried out in looking at the performance of recycled glass in artificial sports turf, grit blasting, water filtration, brick fluxing, mortars, adhesives, cement repair products and cement blocks.
The Sports Turf Research Institute, www.stri.co.uk.