Microplastic waste project awarded NSW Government grant

Published on 10 July 2025

An innovative collaborative project to mitigate microplastic waste from synthetic turf has been awarded more than $330,000 through the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

The joint project by Ku-ring-gai Council, Sydney Coastal Councils Group and the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) aims to reduce microplastic contamination from synthetic turfs, which have become more and more common across the state to meet growing demand for sporting fields.

The two-year project will study conditions of synthetic turf fields and sources of microplastics, then develop and implement measures to prevent contamination in the local environment.

In recent years, synthetic turf blades and rubber crumb infill from synthetic sports fields have been found in local waterways and beaches. Research into the impacts of microplastics on the environment and human health is still underway and a lot remains unknown.

Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay said councils were springing into action to overcome this environmental challenge.

“Councils are on the frontline on the war on waste, developing innovative strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle waste,” Mayor Kay said.

“This project is just one of the ways we are tackling challenges posed by new waste sources, such as microplastics from synthetic pitches. Together, we can help prevent microplastics from entering our waterways and protect our precious environment.”

Chair of the Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Cr Shannon Welch, also welcomed the EPA funding.

“Sydney’s waterways are critical to our local ecology and community wellbeing,” Cr Welch said.

“This project will allow us to better understand how synthetic turf might impact our water systems and explore solutions that support both recreational needs and environmental sustainability.”

Jeff Angel, Director of the Total Environment Centre, which manages AUSMAP, said preventing microplastics from entering waterways was beneficial for the environment and threatened wildlife.

“Plastic pollution is an ever growing concern for the community and this joint project will address an important local source,” Mr Angel said.

“The combination of AUSMAPs rigorous sampling, monitoring and measuring methodology with the councils and EPA objectives of improved policy approaches will assist all areas in NSW with tackling this problem.”

The project was awarded under round three of the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund. It is an initiative of the NSW Environment Protection Authority under the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy, and is funded from the waste levy.

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