– This is an almost completely new plastic playground. As soon as there is a hole, the plastic is spread out into nature. The head of the Norwegian Nature Conservation Association, Truls Gulowsen, sighs as he examines damage to the rubber tire on a playground in Oslo. Truls Gulowsen, head of the Nature Conservation Association Photo: Kai Rune Kvitstein / news Black, small pieces of rubber are scattered throughout the play area. – This is a huge problem and underlines how pointless it is to create playgrounds full of plastic. The Nature Conservancy believes that so-called rubber asphalt on playgrounds should be banned. – A good number of plastic playgrounds are based on chopped up car tires that contain dangerous environmental toxins. A number of others are not based on cut-up car tyres, but still contain problematic substances and completely unnecessary amounts of plastic that can spread in nature. RUBBER: The loose rubber from the rubber asphalt is reminiscent of rubber granules from artificial grass pitches. Photo: Kai Rune Kvitstein / news news has been in contact with Bodel St. Hanshaugen, which is responsible for the playground where the rubber tire was damaged. They say the damage is due to vandalism and that the hole has now been repaired. Big increase In the last 20 years, so-called rubber asphalt has become very widespread on playgrounds, in kindergartens and in schoolyards. Rubber flooring is used because it cushions falls from great heights, maintenance is easy and wheelchair users can roll on it. Rubber asphalt or artificial grass can also be used as a substitute for grass, especially if the wear and tear is extensive. There is no record of how many kindergartens in Norway use rubber flooring. A survey by the National Association of Private Kindergartens showed that six out of 10 private kindergartens use rubber on the playground. Despite the benefits, many are critical of the development. RUNNING AWAY: Rubber granules have come loose from a playground and are flowing into Akerselva. Photo: Ingvild Edvardsen / news Building a plastic-free school yard Some municipalities are now taking action to cut plastic where children play. On a construction site in Ås, the new Åsgård school is about to be erected. For the time being, there is little evidence of what the school yard will look like, but the plans are clear – they will manage without rubber. Helene Bjørneby is shown around the construction site of the new Åsgård school. Project manager in Betonmast, Lasse Kristiansen, explains how the schoolyard will be. Photo: Håvard Hagen / news Mother of two Helene Bjørneby was one of the initiators when the politicians agreed to create a plastic-free outdoor area. The involvement started when the son started school. ENGAGED: Helene Bjørneby contacted politicians to get a majority for a plastic-free schoolyard. Photo: Håvard / Hagen – I saw this rubber tire that felt like a rubber desert, it smelled bad and was so far from what I want children to play on. She thinks it is a paradox that playgrounds are covered with plastic. – When we send children to the beach zone to go plastic hunting, it is absurd that they return to school, squat down and see thousands of pieces of plastic that run away with the rainwater – from their own school yard. It is a blatant contradiction. GREEN: Helene Bjørnøy studies the floor plans of the new Åsgård school. Photo: Håvard Hagen – Not hazardous to health with rubber covering Director of Department in the Norwegian Environment Agency, Marit Kjeldby, says a ban on rubber covering on playgrounds is not something they are working on. Marit Kjeldby, department director in the Norwegian Environment Agency Photo: Geir Mogen / Buckethaus – The biggest sources of the spread of microplastics in nature are wear and tear from tyres, road surfaces and microplastics from artificial grass pitches. Compared to this, the spread from falling surfaces on playgrounds is small. She says parents should not worry about children playing on rubber. – Based on our knowledge, the health risk for children who play on the fall surfaces of cut-up car tires will be low.
ttn-69
The Nature Conservancy has had enough of rubber on playgrounds. Want a ban – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
