Campaigners call for artificial grass tax

[Mysterae_]

Some good arguments for and against fake plastic grass in these comments. It is a better alternative to concrete or stone paving slabs and it requires less energy to maintain it than grass (depending on the wattage of the vacuum cleaner they use ). The amount of properties that have it is quite small and due to the cost I can't see it spreading. However, if it does becomes commonplace and starts to affect biodiversity then something should be done because we'll seriously miss it when it's gone.

In our last house the other half suggested some FPG as I was complaining of the dogs killing the grass with their wee. The cost was astro-comical and the thought of washing dog diarrhoea when they have the skitters, nah, plus dog wee makes the stuff stink for ages. It's not as maintenance-free as some think.

It has it's place but not in my garden. Should it be taxed? It already been taxed (manufacture, shipping, employment, purchase etc).

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Has anyone mentioned that it gives you cancer yet?

 

[Kesomir]

Probably best not to smoke it.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

No need to smoke it - the recycled tyres that the backing is made out is full of all sorts of nasties.

 

[Uther]

My neighbours grass currently looks like a barren parched wasteland, mine looks like a freshly mown lawn, and with zero effort from me. I'll keep the plastic grass thanks.

 

[bayo000]

what about the emissions saved by not using your lawnmower

What utter bull will they come out with next

Really? Of all the things you could have said in defence you pick the most ridiculous one?

Considering grass is a plant it easily offsets any emissions my lawnmower produces from mowing it 10-15 times a year. Plus the grass clippings go into compost which in turn is used to grow more plants around the garden. That's ignoring all the other environmental benefits.

 

[Participant]

My neighbours grass currently looks like a barren parched wasteland, mine looks like a freshly mown lawn, and with zero effort from me. I'll keep the plastic grass thanks.

I'll take the natural look of your neighbour's lawn (because it's natural for grass to look parched when it's dry) over your plastic mat any day.

Has anyone mentioned that it gives you cancer yet?

We've had bio diversity crisis, emissions, flooding, plastic waste, but I don't think we've had cancer, inflation, or world war 3 yet.

 

[233]

Really? Of all the things you could have said in defence you pick the most ridiculous one?

Considering grass is a plant it easily offsets any emissions my lawnmower produces from mowing it 10-15 times a year. Plus the grass clippings go into compost which in turn is used to grow more plants around the garden. That's ignoring all the other environmental benefits.

Woosh. I guess that didn’t come across anywhere near sarky enough

 

[Uther]

I'll take the natural look of your neighbour's lawn (because it's natural for grass to look parched when it's dry) over your plastic mat any day.

I don't care.

 

[Scam]

I don't care.

Why did you get plastic grass? Presumably to look good. Yet as shown on this thread probably most people that see your "lawn" won't be thinking that it looks nice... They'll be thinking sheesh why did he get that stuff it looks so fake and it's terrible for the local wildlife.

So if your reason for getting it to look good is null and void, honestly what's the point in it? Couple that with all of the other arguments against it and it really is just utterly pointless.

So it's ok for the owners to slap down posh slate/granite etc that's if they can afford it otherwise a concrete slab. You would be better off planting oak trees instead of having ago at plastic grass

Again, two wrongs don't make a right. Just because plastic grass isn't as bad as concrete slabs, doesn't make either of them a good choice.

 

[chroniclard]

Would assume the heinous chavs who get it like how it looks?

 

[Uther]

Why did you get plastic grass? Presumably to look good. Yet as shown on this thread probably most people that see your "lawn" won't be thinking that it looks nice... They'll be thinking sheesh why did he get that stuff it looks so fake and it's terrible for the local wildlife.

So if your reason for getting it to look good is null and void, honestly what's the point in it? Couple that with all of the other arguments against it and it really is just utterly pointless.

Again, two wrongs don't make a right. Just because plastic grass isn't as bad as concrete slabs, doesn't make either of them a good choice.

Nobody will see my postage stamp size lawn but me. Also, living in the middle of the country side and not some concrete hell like London I'm sure the local wildlife will be just fine. If you would like to pop round, lay a lawn and then look after it then feel free.
Other than that, I don't care what anyone else thinks.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Says he doesn't care but buys plastic lawn because he cares how it looks. Interesting confuddlement.

 

[Uther]

Says he doesn't care but buys plastic lawn because he cares how it looks. Interesting confuddlement.

No I don't care what anyone else thinks about what I do in my garden. I don't care what you do in yours either, if you have one.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

No I don't care what anyone else thinks about what I do in my garden. I don't care what you do in yours either, if you have one.

I'm with you, if I could afford it I'd have it in a heartbeat.
My Sisters lawn looks awesome and lying down on it on Monday felt like I was on grass.
The quality must have come on leaps & bounds over the years.

 

[roccles]

From the OP Article "Campaigner Charlotte Howard, says plastic grass 'kills anything in the soil beneath'."

If this is her issue then shouldn't we be also taxing extensions, conservatory's etc these cause the same problems probably to an even greater extent.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

From the OP Article "Campaigner Charlotte Howard, says plastic grass 'kills anything in the soil beneath'."

If this is her issue then shouldn't we be also taxing extensions, conservatory's etc these cause the same problems probably to an even greater extent.

We should also keep people off them, think of all the damage they are doing.
I look back when there use to be about 12 kids playing on the lawn and I feel guilty now.

 

[McManicMan]

It's the plastic grass brigade that are pushing up our temperatures because they store heat more

 

[Lopéz]

Why did you get plastic grass? Presumably to look good. Yet as shown on this thread probably most people that see your "lawn" won't be thinking that it looks nice... They'll be thinking sheesh why did he get that stuff it looks so fake and it's terrible for the local wildlife.

So if your reason for getting it to look good is null and void, honestly what's the point in it? Couple that with all of the other arguments against it and it really is just utterly pointless.

Again, two wrongs don't make a right. Just because plastic grass isn't as bad as concrete slabs, doesn't make either of them a good choice.

It's not null and void if it looks good to him

 

[Deleted User 298457]

It's not null and void if it looks good to him

He clearly isn't qualified to make that decision though, so I don't buy the "its my garden I do what I want". We live in a eco-system of eco-systems. He shouldn't have the right to unilaterally, without clear business need ('it looks better!1') destroy natural habitat.