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INPUT ≠ PROCESS ≠ OUTPUT FRACTION ≠ SECONDARY MATERIAL ≠ FINAL DESTINATION

European Synthetic Turf Recycling Matrix

Which synthetic-turf activities, processes and destinations are documented in each of 29 European countries — from published CTE evidence only.

1 · European recycling evidence matrix

Which activities, processes and destinations are actually documented in each country?

Column groups

Evidence legend

  • ●Documented operational activity
  • RDocumented reuse
  • PDocumented pre-processing
  • CCompany-reported activity
  • →Documented material movement
  • HHistorical
  • PjPilot / project
  • …Planned / intended
  • ?Review required
  • —Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

Published evidence supports actual operational activity. This is not automatically verified final material recycling.

  • Netherlands

    Annual EOL turf volume: 44,000–48,000 t/y · CTE public-input model · 2026

  • Germany

    Annual EOL turf volume: 40,000–62,500 t/y · Historical estimate · 2022

  • France

    Annual EOL turf volume: 48,400–79,200 t/y · CTE public-input model · 2026

  • Belgium

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Denmark

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Sweden

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Finland

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • United Kingdom

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Spain

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Italy

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Austria

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Switzerland

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Romania

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Malta

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Portugal

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Poland

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Slovakia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Slovenia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Bulgaria

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Estonia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Lithuania

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Czechia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Croatia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Luxembourg

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Cyprus

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Ireland

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Hungary

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

  • Greece

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

  • Latvia

    Annual EOL turf volume: UNKNOWN

    Not established in the current public CTE evidence. This is not a confirmed zero.

18/29 · 72 · 176 review required

Historical, pilot and project evidence — not current activity (23)

Shown for context only. These items do not fill matrix cells and do not count as current recycling activity, processor counts or capacity.

  • France · Historical / pilot / project · Erstein recycling site (former Re-Match France) · fr-hist-rematch-001 · Source
    The former Re-Match France synthetic-turf recycling unit at Erstein is a historical/closed facility. A judicial auction of the recycling unit took place on 10 June 2026 following judicial liquidation.
  • Sweden · Historical / pilot / project · se-eol-001 · Source
    Naturvårdsverket states that end-of-life artificial turf and rubber surfaces generate significant waste volumes; handling may include reuse, separation of system components, material recycling, waste treatment and energy recovery, and that energy recovery / incineration is currently common. No percentages or national treatment shares are available.
  • Sweden · Historical / pilot / project · se-hist-ivl-001 · Source
    HISTORICAL (2021): the IVL / Beställargrupp Konstgräs study (U 6475) estimated approximately 50 end-of-life artificial-turf pitches per year in Sweden. Not a current 2026 replacement rate; not converted to tonnes.
  • Sweden · Historical / pilot / project · se-sthlm-001 · Source
    Stockholm city example (Report 7191; not national data or national requirements): no new granulate purchased since 2019; approx. 50 t granulate/year cleaned and reused; approx. 20% of the city's pitches granulate-free; target at least 90% plastic-granulate-free by 2031; recycled-plastic requirement for turf fibres 20% at source date, planned 50% by 2027.
  • Portugal · Planned / intended · pt-tomar · Source
    Tomar 2026 (official procurement): replacement of the municipal stadium synthetic turf with “reutilização nos polidesportivos” — old turf reused in municipal multisport facilities. PROJECT-SPECIFIC REUSE, not material recycling; no national reuse share inferred.
  • Portugal · Historical / pilot / project · pt-aff · Source
    AFF Sports publicly describes mechanical removal of synthetic-turf infill for reuse of infill and, in some cases, reuse of the old turf itself. Historical / technical capability — not counted as a current active processor.
  • Czechia · Historical / pilot / project · cz-wc-170203 · Source
    Public Czech project documentation lists removed artificial turf as waste code 17 02 03 (plastic): turf area 3,313.96 m², estimated artificial-turf mass 11.599 t including infill in the project calculation. Project-specific — not converted into a national kg/m² system mass; the figure may reflect only the booked waste item / accounting convention.
  • Czechia · Historical / pilot / project · cz-reatt-2016 · Source
    Historical (as of 30 September 2016): 3 new UT3G pitches had been built in the period and 31 pitches reattested; FAČR expected annual reattestations to exceed 40, described as a normal annual level at the time. The commission noted that a number of pitches built around 2002–2005/06 had not yet had their UT3G replaced and were nearing or beyond acceptable playing condition. NOT a current 2026 replacement rate.
  • Slovenia · Historical / pilot / project · si-lendava-2023 · Source
    Lendava (DOŠ 1 football pitch): replacement of artificial turf, 7,800 m², completed in 2023. Works included removal of the existing artificial turf including granulate infill and quartz sand, preparation / strengthening of the sandy base and installation of new artificial turf. 7,800 m² is a project-specific area — not a national average field size or an annual national replacement volume.
  • Slovenia · Historical / pilot / project · si-sipn-2022-replacements · Source
    NZS SIPN 2022 historical replacement cases: Krško (large artificial-turf field, existing surface from 2010), Britof (small artificial-turf field 60 × 40 m, surface from 2009) and Železniki (large artificial-turf field, surface from 2009). These show older surfaces entering replacement cycles; they do not establish a national lifetime or annual replacement rate.
  • Croatia · Historical / pilot / project · hr-maxmar-claims · Source
    Maxmar company claims (not CTE conclusions): sand, granulate and artificial turf can be reused / recycled; it is the only company in Croatia and the wider area with its specific dismantling machine; typical synthetic-turf lifetime is approximately 10 years, earlier with poor maintenance. CTE does not assign 100% recovery or reuse; downstream recycler, final products and fraction quantities are PROJECT-SPECIFIC / UNKNOWN; the lifetime claim is not used in any national model.
  • Croatia · Historical / pilot / project · hr-park-mladezi-2026 · Source
    Split, ŠC Park Mladeži, 2026: replacement of artificial turf, contracted value EUR 249,017.59 excl. VAT. Works include removal and 'zbrinjavanje' (waste handling / disposal) of the existing turf, levelling, irrigation / cooling improvements and a new system of shock layer, artificial turf, quartz sand and organic granulate. 'Zbrinjavanje' is classified as waste handling / disposal — destination not further verified, not material recycling. Organic infill is a project-specific example, not a national share.
  • Romania · Historical / pilot / project · ro-tuiasi-2019 · Source
    Technical University Gheorghe Asachi, Iași (2019): replacement of 1,360 m² of artificial turf at a university sports base. Project-specific area — not a national average pitch size.
  • Bulgaria · Historical / pilot / project · bg-madan-2026 · Source
    Madan municipality, procurement 00104-2026-0008: sports field of 2,562 m²; works include dismantling the existing sports surface, loading, transport to depot, and installation of new artificial turf with quartz-sand and SBR rubber-granulate infill. Status: removed / transported to depot — final material destination not verified; not material recycling. SBR use is project-specific during the EU transition period; no national SBR share or landfill dominance inferred.
  • Greece · Historical / pilot / project · gr-ermoupoli · Source
    Ermoupoli Municipal Stadium, Syros (Region of South Aegean tender 25PROC016977486): artificial-turf area approximately 7,300 m²; works include removal of old synthetic turf, collection / removal of dismantled material, sub-base preparation and new synthetic turf. Removed materials are managed according to the authority's instructions on the location of deposition / placement — final processing route UNKNOWN. Proves physical EOL generation at ≈7,300 m² project scale; not tonnes, recycling rate, national route, domestic recycler or landfill share.
  • Greece · Historical / pilot / project · gr-4824m2 · Source
    A public procurement document specifies removal of 4,824 m² of old synthetic turf and installation of 4,824 m² of new synthetic turf. Project-specific area — not a Greek average field size.
  • Estonia · Planned / intended · ee-narva-reuse · Source
    Narva, Kalev-Fama stadium artificial-turf replacement (procurement 4690778): the existing artificial turf must be removed and stored at Hariduse tn 22, Narva; Narva JK Trans intends in future to reuse the old turf on properties of various municipal institutions. Old artificial turf from Kalev-Fama is stored in Narva with an explicit stated intention for later reuse on other municipal properties. Classification: REUSE / PREPARATION FOR REUSE — not material recycling. Intended reuse route: VERIFIED; actual reuse completion, quantity, receiving site and residual waste: NOT YET VERIFIED.
  • Estonia · Historical / pilot / project · ee-historical-renovations · Source
    Historical: the 2015 Annelinna reconstruction included removal of old artificial turf and underlying fill layers (total stadium works EUR 932,000 + EUR 40,000 related costs); the Kalevi stadium artificial-turf practice pitch was renovated in 2013 (≈EUR 250,000). Project costs ≠ turf recycling cost; not current.
  • Estonia · Historical / pilot / project · ee-asie-ministry · Source
    The Estonian ministry historically recognised ASIE for environmentally friendly product / service activity, describing ARENA technology and stating that most old turf and infill could be reused on football sites. The page also states ASIE had constructed more than 1,200 football fields over about 25 years across Scandinavia, the UK and Central Europe, and describes a leasing model with surface replacement approximately every 5–6 years. Historical company claims — not Estonian stock, EOL throughput, recycling volume or national lifetime; the award does not override the current business-register status.
  • Estonia · Historical / pilot / project · ee-arena-projects · Source
    ASIE coordinated the ARENA Horizon 2020 project (objective: develop an on-site synthetic-turf recycling solution) and the earlier ARENA-MASTER project (mobile artificial-grass recycling line for on-site infill separation, material recovery and reuse; EU contribution EUR 50,000). CORDIS describes an Estonian-developed on-site system for cleaning, recycling, replacement and material reuse, with historical process elements such as roll handling, infill recovery, dry cleaning, carpet processing and reuse preparation. Wording such as 'first complete recycling solution' is the EU project's / historical source's wording; historical capability — not current 2026 operation, throughput or capacity.
  • Luxembourg · Historical / pilot / project · lu-esch-2014-2024 · Source
    Esch-sur-Alzette reports major sports-infrastructure investment in 2014–2024, including renewal of synthetic fields at the Hiehl and Lankhelz training centres — historical / recent context; no 2026 replacement or EOL destination inferred.
  • Luxembourg · Historical / pilot / project · lu-eu-2031 · Source
    From 17 October 2031, granular polymeric infill for synthetic sports surfaces may no longer be placed on the EU market (Regulation (EU) 2023/2055). This is not a ban on artificial turf, does not require pitches to close and does not require existing infill to be removed. The non-filled choices in recent Luxembourg projects are not attributed to this regulation.
  • Malta · Historical / pilot / project · mt-san-gwann · Source
    San Ġwann 2026: the Government of Malta states the project includes installation of new synthetic turf that will replace the current surface. The material of the current surface is not identified in the source, so the removed surface is not classified as EOL synthetic turf.
Review queue for ChatGPT (176)

Mappings that need an editorial decision. They are NOT shown as positive evidence in the matrix.

  • netherlands · Material recycling · gbn-agr-amsterdam · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • croatia · Full-field processing · maxmar-grupa-croatia · Linked statement does not explicitly support this column — not established
  • romania · Shredding / size reduction · general-sport-field-romania · Linked statement does not explicitly support this column — not established
  • romania · Full-field processing · general-sport-field-romania · Linked statement does not explicitly support this column — not established
  • poland · Material recycling · enerius-poland · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • germany · Material recycling · formaturf-essen · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • sweden · Material recycling · sydvac-sweden · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • france · Second-life turf reuse · infrasports-creutzwald · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • france · Second-life turf reuse · revalgreen-grenay · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • germany · Second-life turf reuse · krb-torgau-zinna · Process wording is ambiguous for this column
  • sweden · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · se-life-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • france · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fr-eol-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • sweden · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · se-reg-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • germany · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · de-eol-003 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • sweden · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · se-reg-004 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • sweden · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · se-eol-003 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • belgium · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · be-fac-proxy-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • belgium · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · be-waste-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • switzerland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ch-gap-treatment · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • germany · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · de-fac-forma-004 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • germany · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · de-eol-006 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • france · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fr-eol-003 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • france · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fr-eol-002 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • united-kingdom · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · uk-waste-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • france · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fr-life-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • united-kingdom · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · uk-fac-sportex-006 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • austria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · at-gap-national · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • netherlands · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · nl-reg-004 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • austria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · at-reg-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • switzerland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ch-gap-eol · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • belgium · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · be-fac-004 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • austria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · at-vc-tte-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • austria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · at-eol-gap-routes · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • denmark · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · dk-comp-hist-001 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • denmark · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · dk-gap-streams · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • ireland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ie-gap-eol · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • spain · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · es-gap-eol · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • spain · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · es-laspalmas · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • spain · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · es-tender-method · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-gap-eol · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-procurement · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-tender-method · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-gap-fixed · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-valorpneu-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • portugal · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pt-reuse-rule · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • italy · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · it-lnd-200 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • italy · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · it-gap-eol · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • italy · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · it-evolution · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • italy · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · it-creazzo · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • italy · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · it-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-orlik-modern · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-procurement · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-utylizacja · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • poland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · pl-dest-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-reatt-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-reatt-2024 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-landfill-national · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-export · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • czechia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cz-contractors · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-nitra · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-reconstruction-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovakia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · sk-map-zero · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-lendava-destination · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-map-zero · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-kodeljevo-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-lepa-trata · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-replacement-activity · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-kamnik-2022 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-funding-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-izola-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • slovenia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · si-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-zlatar-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-pregrada-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-jadro · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-market-activity · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • croatia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hr-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-programme-2012-2024 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-processors · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-renovation-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-renovation-scope · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-future-75 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-map · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • hungary · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · hu-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-uaic-2023 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-replacement-scope · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-iclod-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • romania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ro-waste-framework · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-programme-rule · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-infraconcept · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-sevlievo-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-plovdiv-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • bulgaria · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · bg-map · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-thira-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-sparta-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-galatini-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-kymi-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-sifnos-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-kallithea · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-kos-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-anthousa-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-replacement-market · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-map · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • greece · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · gr-capacity-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-tartu-coop-juri · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-replacement-market · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-etr-tyres · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-reuse-rule · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • estonia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · ee-map · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-lff-2024-programme · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-sloka-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-lff-2025-activity · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • lithuania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lt-je-sports-baltic · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • latvia · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lv-waste-law · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • lithuania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lt-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • lithuania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lt-destinations-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • lithuania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lt-processors-none · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • lithuania · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lt-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-energy-recovery · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-tampere-service-life · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-tampere-infill · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-oulu-budget-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-eu-2031 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • finland · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · fi-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-boykonen-football-2025 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-boykonen-hockey-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-echternach-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-remerschen-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-useldange-2026 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-hamm-2026-2029 · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-pngdr · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • luxembourg · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · lu-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-polemidia · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-deryneia · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-geroskipou · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-chloraka · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-korfi · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-germasogeia · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-waste-regs · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-waste-law · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-wastecode-eow · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • cyprus · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · cy-treatment-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-mfa-programme · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-centenary · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-kirkop · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-safi · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-lija-balzan · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed · Source
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-eol-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-processors-zero · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed
  • malta · Direct turf reuse / Second-life turf reuse · mt-treatment-unknown · Claim mentions reuse, removal or replacement; route classification needed

2 · Quantified material flows

What quantities can actually be measured or documented?

Annual EOL volume observations

CountryAnnual EOL turf volumeYearScopeEvidence qualityMethodSource
France48,400–79,200 t/y2026sportCTE public-input modelCTE MODEL — PUBLIC INPUTS — FOOTBALL-BASEDSource
Germany40,000–62,500 t/y2022sportHistorical estimateUBA 2022 HISTORICAL MODEL / ESTIMATESource
Germany70,000–100,000 t/y2030sportForward projectionUBA 2030 PROJECTIONSource
Netherlands60,000–70,000 t/y2019sportHistorical estimateHISTORICAL GOVERNMENT REFERENCE — 2019. Government letter to parliament citing the Gemax analysis; directional estimate, not an audited statistic and not the current 2026 figure.Source
Netherlands44,000–48,000 t/y2026sportCTE public-input modelCTE MODEL — PUBLIC INPUTSSource

These figures have different methods, years and scopes. They are not comparable national totals and are not ranked. All other countries: UNKNOWN.

Documented facility throughput

Actual throughput only. Nominal or company-reported capacity is not throughput and is not shown here.

No published actual-throughput observations. Fewer than three comparable data points exist, so no country ranking or percentage scale is shown.

3 · Process & route explainer

What does each process physically mean, and what evidence would prove its outcome?

Direct turf reuse

Classification
Reuse
Physical process
Used turf or recovered infill is installed again, on a sports pitch or a non-sport application.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented reinstallation at a named site.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — reuse is not material recycling.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
One local reuse project is not evidence of a national reuse rate.

Second-life turf reuse

Classification
Reuse
Physical process
Used turf or recovered infill is installed again, on a sports pitch or a non-sport application.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented reinstallation at a named site.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — reuse is not material recycling.
Published CTE examples
Realsport SA / AG — Swiss synthetic-turf processing / recycling route + reuse route (Company-reported activity); GT SPORT Kft. / Használt Műfű — used-turf removal, cleaning and reuse pre-processor (no fixed facility pin) (Company-reported activity); Pomont Sur, S.L. — pre-processing / material separation / reuse (no fixed pin) (Company-reported activity); Domo Portugal / Domo Sports Grass Portugal — mobile infill extraction / reuse (no fixed pin) (Documented reuse); se-eol-002 (Documented reuse); pt-alcacer (Documented reuse); lt-visaginas-2026 (Documented reuse); fi-reuse-practice (Documented reuse); fi-tampere-reuse-2026 (Documented reuse)
Limitations
One local reuse project is not evidence of a national reuse rate.

Infill recovery + turf reuse

Classification
Reuse
Physical process
Used turf or recovered infill is installed again, on a sports pitch or a non-sport application.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented reinstallation at a named site.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — reuse is not material recycling.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
One local reuse project is not evidence of a national reuse rate.

Material recycling

Classification
Material recycling
Physical process
Polymer fractions are converted into new polymer material.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented input, process and output fractions.
Evidence of final recycling
Named secondary material and its actual end use.
Published CTE examples
Infrasports processing unit (Company-reported activity); KRB Sportboden-Recycling — Torgau-Zinna (Company-reported activity)
Limitations
Recycling technology availability is not proof of recycled outcomes.

Regranulation

Classification
Material recycling
Physical process
Polymer fractions are converted into new polymer material.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented input, process and output fractions.
Evidence of final recycling
Named secondary material and its actual end use.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
Recycling technology availability is not proof of recycled outcomes.

Agglomeration

Classification
Open-loop recycling or downcycling where supported
Physical process
Shredded or separated fractions are agglomerated or formed into lower-grade or composite products.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented agglomerate or product output.
Evidence of final recycling
Product application with traceable turf-derived input.
Published CTE examples
GBN-AGR Amsterdam (Company-reported activity); Sportex Grangemouth (Company-reported activity); Plastic Recycling Despriet — Harelbeke (Company-reported activity)
Limitations
A recycled-product claim does not establish the origin of every input fraction.

Composite / thick-wall product

Classification
Open-loop recycling or downcycling where supported
Physical process
Shredded or separated fractions are agglomerated or formed into lower-grade or composite products.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented agglomerate or product output.
Evidence of final recycling
Product application with traceable turf-derived input.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
A recycled-product claim does not establish the origin of every input fraction.

Rubber / infill processing

Classification
Material recovery
Physical process
Rubber/infill or sand is separated, cleaned and graded.
Evidence of successful treatment
Separated fractions with documented quality.
Evidence of final recycling
Documented reuse or sale of the recovered fraction.
Published CTE examples
GBN-AGR Amsterdam (Company-reported activity); TUF Recycling (Dongen) (Historical); Realsport SA / AG — Swiss synthetic-turf processing / recycling route + reuse route (Company-reported activity); MAXMAR GRUPA d.o.o. — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); GENERAL SPORT FIELD (GSF) — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); Enerius Sp. z o.o. — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); GT SPORT Kft. / Használt Műfű — used-turf removal, cleaning and reuse pre-processor (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); Refield S.r.l. — Piobbico (fixed full-field / multi-fraction processor) (Company-reported activity); Sydvac AB — mobile on-site pre-processor (Documented pre-processing); Vink (Barneveld) — historical recycler (Historical); IFE Aufbereitungstechnik — Waidhofen an der Ybbs (March 2026 infill project) (Pilot / project); Sportex Grangemouth (Company-reported activity); JNC Premier Pitches (J.N. Cummins & Co. Ltd.) — mobile / project-based pre-processor (Documented pre-processing); Fieldservices / Eurofield — Isbergues (Company-reported activity); Pomont Sur, S.L. — pre-processing / material separation / reuse (no fixed pin) (Company-reported activity); CarpetBeater / Schuurman Sport & Infra (Documented pre-processing); Domo Portugal / Domo Sports Grass Portugal — mobile infill extraction / reuse (no fixed pin) (Documented pre-processing); se-eol-002 (Documented reuse); uk-fac-sportex-005 (Company-reported activity); pt-alcacer (Documented reuse)
Limitations
Infill recovery does not mean the carpet is recycled.

Sand separation / cleaning

Classification
Material recovery
Physical process
Rubber/infill or sand is separated, cleaned and graded.
Evidence of successful treatment
Separated fractions with documented quality.
Evidence of final recycling
Documented reuse or sale of the recovered fraction.
Published CTE examples
MAXMAR GRUPA d.o.o. — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); GENERAL SPORT FIELD (GSF) — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); Enerius Sp. z o.o. — mobile pre-processor / on-site material separation (no fixed facility pin) (Documented pre-processing); FormaTurf Essen (Company-reported activity); Refield S.r.l. — Piobbico (fixed full-field / multi-fraction processor) (Company-reported activity); Sydvac AB — mobile on-site pre-processor (Documented pre-processing); IFE Aufbereitungstechnik — Waidhofen an der Ybbs (March 2026 infill project) (Pilot / project); Sportex Grangemouth (Company-reported activity); Pomont Sur, S.L. — pre-processing / material separation / reuse (no fixed pin) (Company-reported activity); Domo Portugal / Domo Sports Grass Portugal — mobile infill extraction / reuse (no fixed pin) (Documented pre-processing); uk-fac-sportex-005 (Company-reported activity)
Limitations
Infill recovery does not mean the carpet is recycled.

Energy recovery / incineration

Classification
Energy recovery
Physical process
Fractions are burned with energy recovery or co-processed in a cement kiln.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented acceptance at a named plant.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — energy recovery is not material recycling.
Published CTE examples
Infrasports processing unit (Company-reported activity)
Limitations
Never coloured as circular recycling.

Cement kiln

Classification
Energy recovery / co-processing
Physical process
Fractions are burned with energy recovery or co-processed in a cement kiln.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented acceptance at a named plant.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — energy recovery is not material recycling.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
Never coloured as circular recycling.

Landfill

Classification
Disposal
Physical process
Material is landfilled or disposed of without control.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented disposal record (documented cases only).
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
Absence of evidence is not proof of no disposal.

Storage

Classification
Storage — no treatment outcome
Physical process
Material is stored without a treatment outcome.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented storage location.
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable — storage has no outcome yet.
Published CTE examples
TUF Recycling (Dongen) (Historical); Infrasports processing unit (Company-reported activity)
Limitations
Never coloured as recycling.

Documented export for processing

Classification
Transport / intermediate route
Physical process
Material is moved, possibly across a border, for further processing.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented shipment with origin and destination.
Evidence of final recycling
Separate evidence of treatment at the destination.
Published CTE examples
TUF Recycling (Dongen) (Historical)
Limitations
Export is not final recycling.

Export, final destination unknown

Classification
Transport / intermediate route
Physical process
Material is moved, possibly across a border, for further processing.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented shipment with origin and destination.
Evidence of final recycling
Separate evidence of treatment at the destination.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
Export is not final recycling.

Uncontrolled / illegal disposal

Classification
Disposal — documented cases only
Physical process
Material is landfilled or disposed of without control.
Evidence of successful treatment
Documented disposal record (documented cases only).
Evidence of final recycling
Not applicable.
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
Absence of evidence is not proof of no disposal.

Unknown destination

Classification
Unknown
Physical process
Destination not documented.
Evidence of successful treatment
—
Evidence of final recycling
—
Published CTE examples
No published CTE example yet.
Limitations
UNKNOWN is not a confirmed zero.

Performance metrics

Comparable verified performance data (material retention, polymer quality, closed-loop potential, avoided virgin material, process emissions, net climate impact) are currently insufficient for a quantitative ranking.

CTE Conclusion — 5 October 2026

Circular Turf Europe concludes that the European end-of-life synthetic-turf market is active, fragmented and only partially transparent.

The research confirms that physical processing, preprocessing and reuse are taking place across a meaningful part of Europe. In the current CTE evidence base, 18 of the 29 researched countries have documented current turf-related processing, preprocessing or reuse activity.

This means that Europe is not starting from zero. Processing infrastructure exists, reuse routes exist, material separation takes place and several different technical routes are already being applied.

However, the availability of a processing technology or the existence of a recycler is not the same as proof of a circular final destination.

The central research gap identified by CTE is therefore not simply whether synthetic turf can be processed. The larger question is whether the complete material chain can be demonstrated:

  1. Removed field
  2. → Preprocessing
  3. → Separated fraction
  4. → Secondary material
  5. → Final destination

In many of the cases researched by CTE, one or more of these steps can be verified while the next step remains unknown.

  • A field may be removed.
  • Infill may be extracted.
  • Sand may be separated.
  • Carpet may be shredded or agglomerated.
  • Material may be transported to another country.
  • A processor may have substantial nominal capacity.

None of these facts, on their own, proves final material recycling.

For that reason, CTE deliberately distinguishes between removal, reuse, preprocessing, material recovery, recycling, energy recovery, storage, export and final destination.

This distinction is fundamental to understanding the European market.

What the current evidence shows

The research reveals three recurring patterns.

First, documented physical activity exists in a significant number of European countries. This includes fixed processing plants, mobile preprocessing, material separation and documented second-life reuse. The market therefore contains real infrastructure and real operational activity.

Second, the quality and depth of publicly available information varies strongly between countries, operators and material fractions. Information about the existence of equipment, processing sites, projects and nominal capacity is considerably easier to find than information about actual annual throughput and downstream material destinations.

Third, the greatest evidence gap appears after the first processing step. For many material streams, CTE cannot yet publicly verify what ultimately happens to all separated fractions. This is particularly important for:

  • turf fibres and carpet polymers;
  • backing materials;
  • rubber and other infill;
  • sand;
  • mixed residual fractions.

As a result, CTE cannot currently support one comparable European recycling percentage or a simple ranking of countries from “best” to “worst”. The available figures differ too much in year, scope, methodology, system boundary and evidence quality.

Traceability is becoming the central issue

Based on the current evidence, CTE considers material traceability to be one of the defining issues in the next phase of European synthetic-turf recycling.

A stronger evidence chain would make it possible to distinguish much more clearly between:

  • direct reuse;
  • second-life reuse;
  • preprocessing;
  • material recovery;
  • material recycling;
  • open-loop recycling or downcycling;
  • energy recovery;
  • storage;
  • export;
  • disposal;
  • and unknown final destination.

This is particularly relevant for cross-border movements. Export for processing may be a legitimate and necessary part of a recycling chain, but export itself is not a final destination.

A cross-border recycling route should only be considered fully demonstrated when the receiving operator, relevant processing step and subsequent material destination can be evidenced. At present, this level of traceability is still uncommon in the publicly available European evidence.

Regulation increasingly determines what is possible

The research also shows that circularity is not determined by technology alone. European regulation increasingly influences whether secondary materials from legacy products can continue to be processed and placed into new applications.

The EU restriction on synthetic polymer microparticles, waste-shipment requirements, end-of-waste rules and the developing PFAS restriction all affect the conditions under which material routes may operate.

PFAS illustrates this particularly well. ESTC has formally argued in the European PFAS consultation process that recycling routes for legacy synthetic turf should remain possible where future chemical restrictions could otherwise affect recycled material.

CTE treats this as an industry position within an ongoing regulatory process, not as adopted EU law. As of 5 October 2026, the broad EU PFAS restriction process is not final. Any requested derogation, transition period or proposed exemption must therefore remain clearly distinguished from an adopted legal requirement.

This also demonstrates a broader circular-economy challenge: a material may technically be recyclable while regulation ultimately determines whether, and under which conditions, the resulting secondary material may remain in productive use.

The overall conclusion

The picture as of 5 October 2026 is therefore not one of an absence of recycling, but of incomplete visibility of material flows.

  • Europe has recycling technology.
  • Europe has physical processors.
  • Europe has preprocessing capacity.
  • Europe has documented reuse.
  • Europe has examples of material recovery.

What Europe does not yet have is consistent, public and comparable evidence showing what ultimately happens to every material fraction after a synthetic-turf field leaves service.

That distinction matters. Increasing the number of recycling claims does not by itself improve circularity. Increasing the quality of evidence, traceability and transparency about actual material outputs does.

This is the gap Circular Turf Europe intends to make visible.

This conclusion is a dated research snapshot based on publicly available and verifiable information available to Circular Turf Europe as of 5 October 2026. New evidence, operational developments and regulatory decisions may change this picture.