Letter: Use Non-Toxic Materials for Playground Surfaces at New Elementary School
Playground with poured shredded mulch rubber surface. Photo: Toxic Use Redudction Institute, UMass Lowell
The following letter was sent to the Elementary School Building Committee on January 12, 2023.
Both the Conservation Commission and the Board of Health have recently expressed concerns about potential environmental and public health impacts of the use of PIP (poured in place rubber) playground surface at our new elementary school and have noted that safer alternatives to PIP are available. Durability as well as recyclability of materials when the surface needs to be replaced are additional concerns.
I urge that ESBC members familiarize yourselves with the recently updated Toxics Use Reduction Institute report, “Playground Surfaces: Choosing Safer Materials for Children’s Health and the Environment.
The following individuals have generously offered to share their expertise with the committee and answer any questions or concerns you may have about playground surface options:
Lindsey Pollard
Special Projects Research Associate
Toxics Use Reduction Institute
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lindsey_Pollard@uml.edu
www.turi.org
Diana Zuckerman, PhD
President, National Center for Health Research dz@center4research.org
www.center4research.org
Ron King
Natural Playground Designer
President, Natural Playgrounds Community
ron@naturalplaygrounds.com
www.naturalplaygrounds.com
John Root
John Root is former Chair, Town of Amherst Recycling and Refuse Management Committee