Landscape & Urban Design Issue 33 2018 | Page 90

CLOSING THE LOOP: HOW RECYCLING YOUR OLD PITCH CAN HELP RESURFACE YOUR NEW ONE I nstalling a new 3G pitch is a great way to invest in your sports facility , but what do you do with your old one ? R ead on to find out . As the popularity of artificial grass pitches continues to soar, many of those installed around a decade ago are coming to the end of their useful life. This means the resurfacing market is also booming, with an estimated 40-60% of new sports surface installations this year expected to replace an existing pitch. Closing the loop “Ecocept is manufactured on site using over 90% recycled material, including recycled artificial grass. This makes it a sustainable option when resurfacing as it allows the existing artificial grass surface to be broken down into a recycled granulte which can then be re-used in a range of products, including Ecocept™’s sport base layers. Depending on cus tomers’ requirements, this even means that the old pitch can be recycled and then reused as the base layer for the new For schools and clubs, there are a number resurface to be laid on top of – closing the loop in terms of of benefits to resurfacing, with it opening recycling. up an exciting opportunity to renew a facility with the latest artificial grass technology. As part of this process, TenCate Ecocept™ offers a solution which can revolutionise the way we treat the existing artificial grass pitch being replaced. “Not only is this an efficient and environmentally-friendly way of re-using your old surface, it is also a more cost-friendly option. As Ecocept™ gives you a ready-made base layer it has the potential to save much of the labour cost associated with the pre-installation groundworks. At the same time, its excellent permeability can eliminate often costly below-field drainage Here we hand over to John Grindrod, systems. And perhaps just as importantly, its shock absorbency Research and Development to explain. ensures the new 3G pitch will remain compliant with the FIFA Quality Programme and World Rugby’s Regulation 22. 90 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 34 2018