The supplier of crumb rubber for artificial turf playing fields says an Auckland Council investigation has cleared the safety of the product which comes from recycled car tyres.
Pacific Rubber director Andrew Christie said although concerns were raised about toxic contamination from the product, the results of independent testing commissioned by the council found no cause for concern.
He said last week's finding was no surprise to the Takanini firm, which collects 6000 tonnes of tyres a year in the North Island and has supplied more than 30 fields in four countries.
"The findings mirror the United States Environmental Protection Agency findings where the country has constructed over 1300 fields.
"We hope the ratepayers from across New Zealand are spared the expense of further testing on what is a globally accepted product."
