Marco Island, Florida, Bans Artificial Turf

The Marco Island City Council voted four to two in March 2005 to ban artificial turf, in response to a dispute between homeowner Ed Ehlen and his neighbors (see

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Vol. 14, No. 2). While Ehlen argued that his synthetic lawn’s water savings made it environmentally friendly, the city council countered that the lawn’s rubber pellets could float into the city’s sewer system and canals, harming wildlife. City officials have yet to establish whether preexisting fake lawns may be grandfathered in. For more on artificial turf, see

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Vol. 13, No. 4.