January 13, 2026
Dear Mayor Mackin and Brisbane City Councilmembers,
When cities partner with government agencies to agree that plastic grass is inappropriate for landscaping around private homes and public buildings, it must also be considered inappropriate for play surfaces, whether on sports fields, playgrounds, or dog parks.
It is truly encouraging to see Brisbane partnering with the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) to replace water-intensive lawns with drought-tolerant plants and permeable hardscaping. This kind of collaboration sets an important example of responsible water stewardship.
When California cities, agencies and government districts work together to solve serious environmental and public health concerns we are all better served. As a bonus, our domesticated pets, wild birds, mammals, pollinators, fish, and so on are also better off when we conserve our watersheds and drinking water.
It’s also encouraging to see that BAWSCA recognizes plastic for the scourge it is by prohibiting, among other items, both plastic grass and plastic sheeting, also called weed cloth or, sometimes, geotextile.
BAWSCA's Artificial Turf Fact Sheet outlines clear reasons for excluding these products from rebate programs.
Even beyond those reasons, all plastic materials shed microplastics as they degrade, through fading, cracking, and breaking apart. These microplastics contaminate our soil, air, and waterways, ultimately reaching our creeks, streams, and the San Francisco Bay.
Plastic turf neither aligns with the City's environmental or sustainability goals nor does it protect health. The responsible path forward is clear: Brisbane should lead by example and phase out the use of plastic turf in all public and private spaces.
Sincerely,
Susan Hinton
Chair, Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Gita Dev
Chair, Conservation Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter