To the editor: I used to be upset by Charles Miller’s latest op-ed article mischaracterizing artificial turf’s environmental, water-saving and well being advantages.
Artificial turf saves hundreds of thousands of gallons of water yearly and unlocks numerous hours of play for hundreds of thousands of People, essential factors that Miller omits. It has the ability to “foster wholesome existence and civic satisfaction,” as Mayor Ulises Cabrera of Moreno Valley mentioned of a brand new soccer turf area.
For his half, Miller precisely states that artificial turf comprises no deliberately added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The Artificial Turf Council shares considerations about PFAS that’s current in water, air, soil and meals merchandise, however research present PFAS ranges round artificial turf fields are sometimes decrease than these in grass fields and different environments.
The advantages of artificial turf are clear and substantial, making it a vital useful resource for communities nationwide. Readers need to have the total data and context about turf in these discussions.
Melanie Taylor, Forest Hill, Md.
The author is president and chief govt of the Artificial Turf Council.
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To the editor: Because of Miller for itemizing all the explanations plastic lawns don’t save water and are unhealthy for our ecosystems, our well being and world warming.
The e book, “Reimagining the California Garden,” by Bart O’Brien, Carol Bornstein and David Fross, made the case towards each synthetic turf and actual lawns in 2011 and offered quite a few inventive, water-saving alternate options.
Susan Chamberlin, Santa Barbara
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To the editor: I used to be dismayed by Miller’s assault on “plastic” lawns.
My husband and I purchased our present dwelling in 2008 and, confronted with a weed-ridden yard garden with stickers that prevented our younger grandchildren from taking part in there, we changed the garden with “pretend” grass. Twenty-four years later, we’re nonetheless extremely happy with the change.
Opposite to Miller’s piece, our plastic garden will not be short-lived, nor does it require any upkeep. We rely solely on rainwater for cleansing, not on cleansers.
Talking of rain, our turf permits any water that falls on it to soak into the soil beneath; it isn’t impervious.
Three years in the past, we changed our entrance yard with a number of raised beds surrounded by synthetic turf walkways. Since we eliminated our previous garden sprinklers, our L.A. Division of Water and Energy payments have persistently been within the lowest water-usage stage.
Margaret Parkhurst, Westchester
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To the editor: Whereas the substitute turf business has satisfied some customers that its product is sweet for the surroundings, it has taken pains to cover that product’s vulnerability to unpleasant and sometimes everlasting injury.
For instance, they don’t need to inform us how heavy objects can tear that stuff, or how warmth from grilling or from cigarettes can soften it, or how family solvents and oil will disfigure it, or how even chewing gum can create a irritating mess of it. They don’t inform us how broken pretend grass will be very tough and costly to repair.
These vulnerabilities also needs to be included in any truthful evaluation of pretend grass impacts, each to establishments and owners.
Brian Roberts, Covina
