Letters / Swapping one industrial waste product with another

I would like to pass comment on the news item Organic material the preferred infill option for 3G pitch (Shetland News, 12 July 2024).

As I understand it, to progress the planning application, it has been suggested that the hazardous potentially cancerous chemicals (rubber infill), will be replaced by an organic infill mixture; that infill, to be the likes of granulated cork, olive stones or wood particles.

This proposal is wholeheartedly endorsed by our Green party councillor, Dr Alex Armitage online.

I quote from his Facebook comments “Very glad to see the SIC leading the way here. (…) I have brought up in the council chamber when it was being discussed.”

How a doctor can make such ignorant comments is beyond my comprehension. The proposal does no more than swap one industrial waste product with another, perhaps a more dangerous one!

For example, sawdust and wood particles, are a grade one carcinogen (cancer agents, causing nasal, sinus, throat and lung cancers if inhaled).

Olive stone groundings are a waste product of the olive oil industry. Although not fully researched, olive stone groundings, carry many allergens! Its Health and Safety data sheets advise only to be handled using “respiratory protective device with particle filter. Protective gloves. Safety glasses are to be worn. Ensure eye bath is to hand. Protective clothing to be worn.”

For cork dust (granulated) see occupational safety and health guidelines for wood dust, all soft and hard woods: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/woodworking.htm 

Clickimin is already polluted, the loch is lethally toxic for mammals, and the wildlife has gone. Do we want further toxic mixtures poured onto a plastic turf? Do we need our children and sports people exposed to this toxic mixture?

Ian Tinkler
Clousta