RECYCLED RUBBER

RECYCLED RUBBER IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL ECONOMIES AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS

Rubber products are made to last. For those of us who use rubber products, such as tires, that's a good thing. But when it's time for an upgrade, rubber products can be pretty difficult to dispose of responsibly. That's where recycled rubber comes in. Recycling rubber means that millions of scrap tires are no longer dumped in landfills, or left illegally in lakes, abandoned lots, along the side of the road and in sensitive habitats. Tire recycling is an economically sound, environmentally-friendly activity that contributes to a significant reduction of a tire’s overall carbon footprint and provides thousands of jobs nationwide.

New Research Developments

California OEHHA Draft Study (2025)

Earlier this year, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a draft study evaluating potential exposures and risks associated with synthetic turf containing crumb rubber. While still under review, preliminary findings suggest that typical use of these fields does not result in exposures to harmful chemicals at levels of concern.

EPA Report – April 2024

In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final report on synthetic turf with recycled rubber infill. The study concluded that the exposure to chemicals from recycled rubber used in synthetic turf fields is likely below levels of concern for both children and adults using the fields regularly.

Helpful Resources

BOARD-CERTIFIED TOXICOLOGIST

“The publication ‘Comprehensive multipathway risk assessment of chemicals associated with recycled ("crumb") rubber in synthetic turf fields’ adds to the growing body of literature that suggests recycled rubber infill in synthetic turf poses negligible risks to human health.”

— Michael Peterson is a Board-Certified Toxicologist

CLINICAL RESEARCH PROFESSOR IN RADIATION MEDICINE

“... we naturally have a need to find something to blame but it’s not the crumb rubber or anything else in synthetic turf that caused the cancers. On the contrary, physical activity should be encouraged and promoted by year round, weather-resistant fields to help prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. Limiting field development could in the long run actually increase cancer incidence.”

— Dr. Archie Bleyer is Clinical Research Professor in Radiation Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, and founding member of the Critical Mass Young Adult Cancer Alliance and founder of DEFEATcancer. Dr. Bleyer chaired the Children’s Cancer Group for 10 years, then the world’s largest pediatric cancer research organization, the Department and Division of Pediatrics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Community Oncology in the Department and Division of Medicine at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.