One synthetic turf athletic field provides an outlet for 20,000 tires

Crumb rubber derived from recycled tires enhances the performance of a variety of sports surfaces, providing infill for sports fields and paving for running tracks. Crumb rubber adds cushioning and springiness to protect athletes. Additionally, surfaces made from crumb rubber dry quickly, drain excess moisture, reduce dust and mud, and minimize freezing. Rain or shine, a field comprised of crumb rubber is always ready for action.

“The environmental benefit of a synthetic athletic field enhanced by crumb rubber infill is three-fold,” said Jeffrey Kendall, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling. “Not only is the field providing an outlet for recycled rubber, but replacing a grass field with a synthetic material can save as much as 50,000 gallons of water each week during the peak growing season and eliminate the need for toxic pesticides and fertilizers.”

Crumb rubber is used in artificial turf fields between turf fibers to provide stability and resiliency. A single athletic field requires approximately 125 tons of crumb rubber, which saves about 20,000 tires from becoming part of landfills or stockpiles. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, artificial turf has been installed in approximately 4,500 fields, tracks and playgrounds in the United States. Synthetic turf was originally used in stadiums and on athletic fields for college and professional sports teams, but now is also used in municipal parks, golf courses, playgrounds and private residences.

The rubberization of athletic surfaces offers many benefits to help prevent injuries and reduce stress on leg muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. The specially designed infill with dust free rubber granules prevent “flyout,” “splashing,” and migration of the base so that traction, drainage and shock absorption are maximized.