Aduro chemically recycles synthetic turf

Iranpolymer/Baspar  Aduro Clean Technologies has successfully trialled using synthetic turf as feedstock for chemical recycling.

The Canada-based chemical recycler used its proprietary Hydrochemolytic Technology (HCT) to convert the plastic components of synthetic turf into hydrocarbon feedstocks.

The synthetic turf samples tested included the full multilayer structure typically found in commercial and sports applications—polyethylene blades, polypropylene thatch and backing layers, polyurethane adhesives, and residual infill materials like sand and crumb rubber.

This mix of materials is notoriously difficult to recycle using either mechanical or traditional chemical recycling methods, which generally require cleaner, more uniform feedstocks.

Aduro’s technology, however, was able to selectively target and break down the polyethylene and polypropylene content into shorter-chain hydrocarbons, the company said in a statement. These byproducts have potential use as feedstocks in steam cracking processes and new polymer production.

The process reportedly achieved these results without the need for extensive preprocessing, suggesting a high degree of tolerance for the contamination and complexity typical of aged synthetic turf systems.

Aduro received the turf samples from a global industry stakeholder and reports that several other parties have since expressed interest in the results, highlighting a growing demand for recycling solutions in this sector. Aduro’s CEO, Ofer Vicus, said the results support the company’s strategy of focusing on waste streams that are difficult to recycle using conventional infrastructure.

“Synthetic turf is a good example—its multilayer construction, bonded components, and contamination make it difficult to process through traditional means,” Vicus said. “These are the kinds of waste streams that may be better suited to right-sized, modular chemical recycling systems like HCT.”

HCT is a water-based chemical conversion process which Aduro says works with lower operating temperatures and produces lower emissions, higher purity products, and higher yields of hydrocarbon products from PE, PP, and PS waste.

Synthetic turf is used worldwide in sports fields, landscaping, playgrounds, and commercial spaces due to its durability and low maintenance. In North America alone, over 12,000 turf fields are expected to reach the end of their service life within the next five years.

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