Artificial Turf War – Not So Eco-Friendly

A nurse in Clearwater, Florida has been battling the city council over the installation of her synthetic grass lawn.

Carol Korotkow, covered less that a quarter acre of her lawn with Mirage “waterless grass.”

The artificial grass cost? About $3,300 dollars.

This is another one of those good/bad “green” situations where heads butt.

In today’s push for recycling, more efficient water use, water restrictions, going organic, xeriscape landscaping, reducing lawn fertilizer use and the use of pesticides, it would seem a synthetic grass lawn would make sense.

An artificial grass lawn is made from recycled-plastic, requires no water, stays green all year without any lawn fertilizer applications, no noise polluton from a lawn mower, resists bugs, no weeds and you would assume it to be environmentally a safe bet, and a non issue.

However, when neighbors complain and city officials get involved. A can of worms opens up – from environmental and enforcement issues.

After installing the synthetic lawn, it appears some neighbors did not like the end result and called the city.

From what I have read, the city had no real ordinance or “rules” for artificial grass lawns. So the city inspectors checked things out and said the synthetic turf was “unacceptable” and Ms. Korotkow needed to rip up the “waterless grass” or face a $100 per day fine.

With no ordinance in place the city does hold some legitimate concerns.

Imagine if a Floria Gator fan installed blue or orange turf along with some fake trees.

Don’t start on the fake trees… been to the mall lately?

There is also right of way issues. What if a utility company needed to rip up the turf for repair work? How and where does the turf drain?

While the artificial grass appears to be an “eco-friendly” landscape alternative to normal grass, it does have a downside – just ask Carol Korotkow.