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Synthetic Grass / Artificial Turf / Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS) / Forever Chemicals / Health and Environmental Risks / Drought-Friendly Landscaping

Council File 24-0602

Under review — the city is grappling with how to safely dispose of artificial turf after discovering PFAS contamination in landfill leachate and groundwater, but hasn't yet secured funding or a concrete plan for citywide collection.

Introduced
2024-05-24
Last changed
2026-07-31
Status
open
Expires
2028-07-30
Committee
Energy and Environment Committee
Mover
BOB BLUMENFIELD
Second
EUNISSES HERNANDEZ

Brief

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion in May 2024 to address health and environmental risks from synthetic grass and artificial turf, particularly PFAS (forever chemicals) that contaminate soil and water. The Council adopted a substitute motion 15-0 in September 2024. The matter now awaits reports from the Bureau of Sanitation and other departments on regulation options, environmental impact, and drought-friendly landscaping alternatives. Multiple neighborhood councils have submitted community impact statements supporting action.

Full summary

In May 2024, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield moved to investigate and regulate synthetic grass and artificial turf in Los Angeles, focusing on the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — persistent manmade chemicals that accumulate in the environment and pose known health risks. The motion, seconded by Eunisses Hernandez and Katy Yaroslavsky, directed city departments to examine the extent of synthetic turf use, assess health and environmental impacts including PFAS leaching into groundwater, and develop regulatory and incentive frameworks to reduce or eliminate synthetic turf in favor of native plantings and water-efficient landscaping. After the Energy and Environment Committee approved an amended version in June 2024, the full Council adopted a substitute motion (Blumenfield-Krekorian-Yaroslavsky) 15-0 on September 17, 2024. One of the substitute motion's directives instructed the Bureau of Sanitation, with LADWP assistance, to report on the environmental and financial impacts of processing synthetic grass waste. The Bureau's July 2026 response paints a troubling picture of the end-of-life problem. Artificial turf is made of multiple plastic layers — polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, and nylon blades woven into chemically coated backing, filled with crumb rubber or sand infill — making it essentially unrecyclable with current technology. There are no recycling facilities for the material anywhere in California. What recycling does occur happens out of state, is not economically viable at scale, and raises its own contamination concerns since PFAS and microplastics may not be destroyed in the process. As a result, landfill disposal is the dominant end-of-life option, and that carries serious risks. The Bureau found PFAS at elevated concentrations in leachate monitoring points and in a groundwater monitoring well downgradient of Sunshine Canyon Landfill, where the City currently sends residential artificial turf waste. Conventional wastewater treatment cannot remove PFAS, meaning surface waters including the LA River and Santa Monica Bay face contamination risk from effluent. The Bureau recommends disposing of artificial turf in Subtitle C hazardous waste landfills rather than standard Class III municipal landfills, on the grounds that the specialized facilities offer stronger containment through more robust liners and leachate treatment systems. However, that approach comes at a cost premium — roughly $85 per ton compared to $65.23 per ton for ordinary solid waste disposal — and does not yet account for transportation, accessorial fees, or material that exceeds drinking-water PFAS thresholds. The Bureau also calls for continued monitoring at Sunshine Canyon and maintenance of its existing Corrective Action Program, while acknowledging that the total quantity of artificial turf currently in City-managed facilities would need to be inventoried in coordination with LADWP and LA Recreation and Parks before any citywide program could be designed. The file has drawn broad community interest, with neighborhood councils from across the city — including Sherman Oaks, Coastal San Pedro, Harbor Gateway North, North Westwood, and more than a dozen others — filing impact statements. In February 2025, the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office submitted a separate report on the environmental, health, and heat impacts of synthetic grass. As of late July 2026, the Bureau of Sanitation's disposal report has been referred to both the Energy and Environment Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee. The file remains active and open, with no funding source yet identified for any citywide collection or disposal program.

Activity (44)

  • 2026-07-31 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee; Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-07-30 Document submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, dated July 30, 2026.
  • 2026-02-11 Community Impact Statement submitted by Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-06-19 Community Impact Statement submitted by Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-06-18 Community Impact Statement submitted by Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-04-28 Community Impact Statement submitted by Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-03-05 Community Impact Statement submitted by Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-02-20 Climate Emergency Mobilization Office document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2025-02-19 Document(s) submitted by Climate Emergency Mobilization Commission, as follows:Climate Emergency Mobilization Office report, dated February 19, 2025, relative to the environmental, health, and heat impacts of synthetic grass/artificial turf.
  • 2025-02-13 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westlake North Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-01-17 Community Impact Statement submitted by PICO Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-12-12 Community Impact Statement submitted by Reseda Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-11-19 Community Impact Statement submitted by Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-11-04 Community Impact Statement submitted by Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-10-17 Community Impact Statement submitted by Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-10-09 Community Impact Statement submitted by North Westwood Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-10-03 Community Impact Statement submitted by Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-20 Community Impact Statement submitted by South Robertson Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-18 Council action final.
  • 2024-09-17 Council adopted Substitute Motion (Blumenfield - Krekorian - Yaroslavsky), subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2024-09-16 Community Impact Statement submitted by Van Nuys Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-16 Community Impact Statement submitted by Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-14 Community Impact Statement submitted by Del Rey Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-13 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 17, 2024.
  • 2024-09-12 Community Impact Statement submitted by Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-09 Community Impact Statement submitted by Venice Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-07 Community Impact Statement submitted by Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-05 Community Impact Statement submitted by United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-09-04 Community Impact Statement submitted by Silver Lake Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-31 Community Impact Statement submitted by Los Feliz Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-30 Community Impact Statement submitted by Rampart Village Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-22 Community Impact Statement submitted by Venice Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-15 Community Impact Statement submitted by Winnetka Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-14 Community Impact Statement submitted by Winnetka Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-12 Community Impact Statement submitted by Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-08 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-04 Community Impact Statement submitted by Palms Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-08-01 Community Impact Statement submitted by Tarzana Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-07-23 Community Impact Statement submitted by Studio City Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-07-01 Community Impact Statement submitted by Mar Vista Community Council.
  • 2024-06-28 Energy and Environment Committee approved as amended .
  • 2024-06-26 Community Impact Statement submitted by Pico Union Neighborhood Council.
  • 2024-06-24 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 28, 2024.
  • 2024-05-24 Motion referred to Energy and Environment Committee.

Documents (97)

Council votes (1)

  • 2024-09-17 Vote — 15-0-0 · Regular

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