The sale of artificial grass should be banned in the UK for environmental reasons. It is environmentally irresponsible to allow garden space occupied by grass and other plant life (which processes CO2 and supports wildlife) to be replaced by plastic which does not biodegrade.
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It is widely accepted that planting trees and other plants is beneficial in the fight against climate change due to their ability to process CO2. Grass and other plant life also support our wildlife. Artificial grass offers no benefit to wildlife.
Artificial grass is made from plastic and will not biodegrade. Its manufacture also has a carbon footprint.
For those who do not want the maintenance of plants, decking or patios are an alternative which do not contribute towards the plastic problem.
Thursday 24th September 2020
The Government has no plans to ban the use of artificial grass.
We prefer to help people and companies make the right choice, rather than banning items outright.
The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy for England, published in 2018, outlines the ways in which we will meet our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by taking action across each stage of the product lifecycle as we move toward a more circular economy: www.gov.uk/government/publications/resources-and-waste-strategy-for-england.
It is for local authorities to comply with the legal and policy safeguards in place to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable drainage. The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) requires all public authorities to have regard for conserving biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. Our most important designated sites and species are also protected under the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives, which have been transposed into UK law, and by other domestic legislation.
Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework, revised last year, sets out how planning policies for England are expected to be applied, including taking a strategic approach to meeting the challenge of climate change and conserving and enhancing the natural environment. The revision of the Framework has also clarified that planning policies and decisions should minimise impacts on and provide net gains for biodiversity.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs