Recycled Rubber Coalition Launches Nationwide Public Education Campaign, "Better Play Initiative"

Campaign will provide access to definitive studies and the latest information on recycled rubber surfaces, especially as leaders consider how to provide members of the community with safe, sustainable, and all-season recreation spaces

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Recycled Rubber Coalition today launched the Better Play Initiative (BPI), a nationwide public education campaign to provide community leaders with definitive resources on the safety, reliability and durability of surfaces using crumb rubber and other recycled rubber products. 

Recycled rubber is used in a wide range of products and applications, helping to keep 220 million end-of-life tires out of landfills each year. For communities, products using recycled rubber are utilized in parks, playgrounds, and playing fields, and provide a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to traditional surfaces.

"The Better Play Initiative will provide state and community leaders with the information they need to make informed, responsible decisions regarding the safety and accessibility of our nation's playgrounds, parks, and playing fields," said Stratton Kirton, Vice President of Government Affairs for Liberty Tire Recycling, which is a member of the Recycled Rubber Coalition. "By investing in recycled rubber, communities support safe and accessible recreation spaces that encourage healthy, active play."

"Safe and accessible recreation spaces are the firm foundation of active, healthy communities," said Scott Gerber, Program Director of the Better Play Initiative. "Parks, playgrounds, and playing fields are essential infrastructure for public health and community well-being, from families gathering at local parks to athletes training at sports facilities. Recycled rubber provides safe, accessible, and responsible public spaces for communities."

Over the years, researchers worldwide have developed a significant body of peer-reviewed and other definitive studies examining the safety of recycled rubber. Study after study has concluded that there are no significant differences in health risks between different playing surface types, including grass.

Nevertheless, myths about recycled rubber have persisted. The Better Play Initiative will provide access to reliable resources to counter misinformation and outline the ways in which communities have safely used these products for decades. 

The coalition will be a reliable source for definitive information on recycled rubber applications and benefits to communities, including:

Safe: 100+ studies, including peer-reviewed academic analyses and government reviews, underscore the safety of recycled rubber surfaces.

The Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Centers for Disease Control concluded that recycled rubber surfaces pose no significant health risks.

Similarly, a comprehensive study from the National Institution for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands found, after extensive field testing, that health risks are "virtually negligible."

Maintainable: 75 percent reduction in maintenance costs, delivering savings while providing more hours of community use.

Accessible: 6.67x more annual usage by remaining playable in conditions that would close grass fields (2,300 hours vs 300 hours).

Responsible: 220+ end-of-life tires diverted from landfills annually, reducing waste for communities.

Transformative: 400 to 500 percent longer lifespan than traditional surfaces, remaining safe and playable without reducing quality.

For more information about the Better Play Initiative, visit https://www.betterplaytoday.org.

About the Better Play Initiative
The Better Play Initiative is a nationwide public education campaign that provides definitive resources on recycled rubber surfaces for parks, playgrounds, and playing fields, as well as other applications. The Initiative supports communities with up-to-date information on the safety, reliability, and durability of surfaces using crumb rubber and other recycled rubber products. Additional information can be found by visiting BetterPlayToday on LinkedIn and X.

About the Recycled Rubber Coalition
The Recycled Rubber Coalition (RRC) is a national organization of companies that recycle rubber or manufacture materials from recycled rubber products. Our coalition is also a resource for policymakers and the public on the responsible and safe uses of recycled rubber, and we work closely with state and local policymakers to identify ways we can increase the recycling and reuse of rubber and in particular, prevent tire waste and scrap tire dumping. Additional information about the Recycled Rubber Coalition can be found by visiting https://recycledrubbercoalition.org, on Facebook @RecycledRubberCoalition, and on X @Recycled_Rubber.

Scott Gerber, Program Director
Scott Gerber is the Program Director of the Better Play Initiative. A resident of Arlington, VA, Scott coaches Little League and serves on the Board of Arlington United Baseball. As a youth sports organizer and community advocate, he is passionate about empowering safe play and accessible recreation spaces.

Media Contact
media@betterplaytoday.org 

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SOURCE Recycled Rubber Coalition