A new major UK-wide research initiative will tackle one of sport's fastest-growing environmental challenges: finding sustainable ways to recycle artificial sports pitches at the end of their lifespan.

The issue is becoming increasingly significant as millions of square metres of artificial turf are removed each year. Known as “ReSurface”, the three-year, almost £1.3 million project will explore how the UK can build a more effective and environmentally responsible system for managing and recycling synthetic turf materials.

Existing recycling options remain limited, with many surfaces transported to specialist facilities located far from where the pitches are installed. The resulting transport requirements increase costs and contribute to carbon emissions, while available processing capacity struggles to keep pace with demand.

As the sports sector looks to improve its environmental performance, top organisations such as FIFA have highlighted the need for a fully developed recycling infrastructure capable of handling all end-of-life artificial turf by 2028.

The new project will help achieve this goal, by investigating new ways of recovering valuable materials from used pitches. Researchers will focus on separating the various elements that make up modern synthetic turf systems, such as infill materials, backing layers and plastics, while also identifying new commercial uses for the recycled outputs.

The project will also examine how a future recycling network could operate across the UK. By comparing different infrastructure models, including both regional processing centres and larger centralised facilities, the research team hopes to identify approaches that reduce environmental impact while remaining economically viable.

Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Defra, the project involves a consortium of organisations, led by academics at Loughborough University and the University of the West of Scotland. The initiative also includes partners from the recycling industry, sports sector and policymaking community.

UWS’s involvement is coordinated by Dr Phillip Cowie and includes Dr Kiri Rodgers and Emeritus Professor Andrew Hursthouse.

Discussing the research, Dr Cowie said: "As artificial sports pitches continue to play an increasingly important role in supporting participation and physical activity across the UK, we must also address the environmental challenge created when these surfaces reach the end of their lifespan. Every year, millions of square metres of artificial turf are removed, yet recycling options remain limited and much of the material is difficult to recover and reuse. This project aims to tackle this problem.”

Every year, millions of square metres of artificial turf are removed, yet recycling options remain limited and much of the material is difficult to recover and reuse. This project aims to tackle this problem.

Dr Phillip Cowie, UWS

Professor Andrew Hursthouse said: “ReSurface is an exciting project bringing together leading expertise from academia, industry and policy to develop practical solutions that can transform how synthetic turf is managed at end of life. By creating new recycling technologies, identifying higher-value uses for recovered materials, and exploring the most effective national recycling infrastructure, we aim to support the transition to a truly circular approach that reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions and delivers long-term environmental benefits for the sports sector and beyond."

By creating new recycling technologies, identifying higher-value uses for recovered materials, and exploring the most effective national recycling infrastructure, we aim to support the transition to a truly circular approach that reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions and delivers long-term environmental benefits for the sports sector and beyond.

Professor Andrew Hursthouse

Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director for Strategy at EPSRC said: “This investment reflects our commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable UK economy. By funding ambitious, collaborative and impactful research into recycling technologies, we are helping to tackle some of the most complex challenges in our waste system from collection through to currently hard-to-recycle material recovery. The research being undertaken, which is jointly funded by EPSRC and Defra, will support the long-term transition to a circular economy and creates the conditions for genuine economic and environmental benefit for the UK.”

The research directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities and Goal 17: partnership for the goals.