The future of play areas and playgrounds is all about recycling and, above all, recyclables . Combating waste and embracing the circular economy means paying due attention to construction materials , which allow for inclusive and eco-friendly play areas. Let's delve deeper into the topic and discover why recyclable materials are important in playgrounds and all areas dedicated to outdoor activities for adults and children alike.
Eco-friendly playgrounds starting from recyclable and recycled materials
Today, much attention is paid to street furniture, especially with a view to making cities healthier and less environmentally impactful. And playgrounds today are the epitome of this shift in mentality : more and more municipal administrations are turning to companies that make sustainability their core business. And while there are eco-friendly playgrounds made from recycled plastic and shock-absorbing flooring made from recycled end-of-life tires (ELTs), much has been done (and is being done) for the remaining walkable areas of city play areas, which, in addition to using recycled materials, aim to be 100% recyclable.
Recyclable materials in playgrounds: why?
Heraclitus said: " Nothing is immutable, except the need for change. Everything flows, nothing remains unchanged ." It's a concept that, though ancient, we experience daily, both firsthand and by looking at the cities and places we live in: where once there was an abandoned area, a playground has sprung up; and where once there was a playground, the space has been converted into other types of infrastructure.
And there's nothing strange about this: these are the normal flows of change/renovation that reshape the face of our cities . One thing, however, remains unchanged: the huge flow of materials (first construction and then demolition), which in most cases are then disposed of as hazardous waste.
On the contrary, municipal administrations' focus on creating playgrounds with recyclable materials reveals a farsighted vision for the future transformation of the urban fabric, especially when they choose to use eco-friendly materials that, once decommissioned, can be given a new lease of life and reused in other construction projects.
In playgrounds, recyclable materials can include ecological and natural flooring which, in addition to being long-lasting, can then be recycled and reused as aggregate in other types of construction sites.
Natural floors in playgrounds
But what types of natural flooring can be used in a playground made with recyclable materials? For example, in Italy's first inclusive park (built in Pordenone), Terra Solida®'s Nature Premix was used , a special eco-friendly binder-consolidant used to stabilize quarry soils or stabilized mixes, with the addition of clay and silt. This allowed for the creation of terraces and green paths accessible to people with disabilities.
In San Gerardo Park in Nardò , an eco-friendly natural pavement has been created . Besides being recyclable, it has mechanical properties that make the paths durable and guarantees high permeability, which is essential to prevent potholes and waterlogging. Still speaking of Terra Solida®, playgrounds, and recyclable materials , we can mention both Open Paving , a product that creates draining, eco-friendly, and recyclable pavements, and Nature stabil road , perfect for creating permeable and wear-resistant paths.
In short, today it is possible to apply the green economy to every sector of human life. Nature and the Planet give thanks, and human health benefits.
