Our Mission
The Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee seeks to reduce and eliminate plastics that worsen climate change and harm both the environment and public health. In addition we promote compostable alternatives.
The next regular PPPC meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 26. We meet monthly on the 4th Wednesday.
Contact the Plastic Pollution Prevention Committee
What's New!
Nurdle Hunt Results on Song Sparrow Spur Trail, July 26. No nurdles, but we did find plenty of plastic trash including this large piece of pentane infused expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). EPS is made by heating nurdles in a mold until they expand and fuse together. It's easy to see the individual expanded fused pellets in the product, making this comparable to seeing a large pile of nurdles. Polystyrene is well known for its harm to marine animals.
On July 13th theLoma Prieta Chapter and the Grass Roots Network Single-Use Plastics Plus Sub-team co-hosted a conversation on nurdles.
Jace Tunnell's recent talk on nurdles and citizen science. Learn about plastic pre-production pellets, a.k.a. "nurdles." These are also called "primary microplastics," as they are intentionally manufactured to be 5mm or less in size. During transport nurdles may leak or, in the event of a crash or accident they can spill in bulk. In waterways small marine animals may mistake nurdles for food and some have starved while trying to digest them. How to look for nurdles.
Biodiversity, Sports, and Sustainable Field Management. Visitors from Santa Clara County, San Rafael, Foster City, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Francisco, Marin County, and the City of Santa Clara met at a San Francisco Bay Area natural grass sport and community field to learn about sustainable, organic compatible field management.
Palo Alto Turf Study. The Palo Alto Community Services Department asked the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter about sports surfacing for El Camino Park and other Palo Alto parks. Read our answers here.
In August 2025 Palo Alto released a draft study prepared by Lloyd Sport & Engineering for public comment.
See Our Subsequent Public Letter Requesting a Redo of the Draft Turf Study. "The Sierra Club Loma Prieta expresses its concern about the Draft Comparative Analysis of Synthetic and Natural Turf Athletic Fields commissioned by the City. While the report may be copious and well-written, in a grammatical sense, it falls short as a serious analytical study needed for the staff and council to make an informed decision."
Plastic turf can burn
Fire retardants added to plastic turf are designed to slow the effects of heat, but plastic grass will catch fire in extreme circumstances [2019]. When people are nearby, homes are evacuated [2018].
Burning plastics are highly toxic.
Regarding January 28, 2025
A deep Thank You to everyone who showed up this past Tuesday to urge the Santa Clara County Supervisor to ban new installations of plastic turf. Unfortunately the Supervisors could not get to a majority though 3 separate motions were made.
We are deeply grateful to Board President Otto Lee who proposed the ban and to Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga who supported the strictest version of the proposed ordinance. Supervisors Arena and Duong each supported separate motions for a lesser ban, though not with each other or today we would have a partial ban, while Supervisor Ellenberg steadfastly voted against all motions.
While no vote prevailed, we were inspired by our partners and allies. An amazing 104 public comments were made by citizens in the run-up to voting and 62 public comments were for the ban while there were 41 against (and one that didn't say). That's a 3 to 2 ratio, which would be considered a landslide at a ballot. Medical professionals who commented were at an even higher ratio of about 9 to 1. Plus environmental and justice organizations joined in from across the County, including Green Foothills, Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, Community for Natural Play Surfaces (CFNPS), Si Se Puede, Santa Clara County Medical Association, Center for Environmental Health, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and many more - with a shout out to Andrea W., a Co-founder of CFNPS, who tirelessly brought most organizations on board.
Win!
Tuesday, November 19: Sunnyvale, CA residents near Lakewood Park continue to access grass fields. The Sunnyvale City Council approved a Staff plan for grass athletic fields at the park. This is the culmination of a two year effort to keep Lakewood Park free from plastic turf.
Current Campaigns
Natural Plants and Grass, Not Plastic
In urban, suburban and open area landscapes we promote drought tolerant plants that support local fauna in place of artificial turf. We ask our members to write letters to their local and state elected officials, and to make public comments at relevant public government meetings.
Drought tolerant, pollinator friendly yard
Plastic turf strip
On athletic fields we advocate for keeping functional drought tolerant grasses on sports fields in place of plastic carpeting.
“We are proud to have some of the nicest fields in the Central Valley … We water our grass fields with recycled water from our drains that is also used in our five ponds on campus.” Steven Flowers, Associate Director of Athletics @ Stanislaus State University
Fremont High School, Worn out football field plastic turf, August 2023
Actions
We ask our members to write letters to their local and state elected officials, and to make public comments at relevant public government meetings.
Links
Environmental Harm
- Petrochemical Production Continues to Climb
- Valley Water Plastic Turf Information Sheet
- Huge Amount of Plastic Turf Winds Up in the Sea
- PFOS - a PFAS 'forever chemical' - Found in Plastic Turf at Home Depot, Lowes
- NPR/KQED Discuss Greenwashing
Public Health Harm
- Santa Clara County Medical Association Letter to Santa Clara County Supervisors
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Position Statement on Artificial Turf
- American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMA) on Risks of Microplastics
- Health Professionals Open Letter to the U.N. Plastics Treaty Negotiating Team
