MLB, WM recognized by NWRA for recycling projects and programs
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) announced that Major League Baseball and WM will be honored for its recycling projects and programs, along with five other winners, during the NWRA Industry Conference in a special ceremony held on the USS Midway.
MLB/WM and this year's other award winners are being recognized for work that meets local needs in innovative ways, demonstrates high standards of effective operations, expands public outreach into new areas and implements leading-edge technology. A panel of professionals from the waste and recycling industry selected the winners from 37 applications.
“Each year, NWRA honors those projects and programs across the waste and recycling industry that exemplify our shared dedication to innovation and the implementation of technology in support of efforts to successfully capture, reduce and reuse materials from the waste stream,” said NWRA President and CEO Michael E. Hoffman. “With continued skepticism around how the industry functions, the awards give us real-world examples to help tell the story to elected officials and the public that recycling is real and effective, particularly when supported by behavior change, sound policies based on solid research and investment in innovation. The 2025 Recycling Award winners are a great example of embracing innovation and creating confidence in the tireless work done by the waste and recycling industry.”
The 2025 Recycling Awards recipient for Game Changer/Sustainability Partnership: WM – Major League Baseball.
Major League Baseball (MLB) and WM forged a multi-year partnership to elevate sustainability-related efforts across all MLB operations during flagship events (e.g., All-Star, postseason) and with individual Clubs and ballparks across the U.S. and Canada. In the partnership, MLB works with WM to identify League-wide initiatives ranging across waste, energy and water management, procurement, travel, community impact and fan engagement. MLB also provides financial support for WM’s customized advisory services to individual Clubs, including developing strategic and operations plans, optimizing recycling programs, and helping implement new waste reduction and diversion systems. The partnership standardizes tracking and reporting of environmental impact metrics and reporting through the use of a shared digital platform accessible to the League and all 30 Clubs.
The partnership exemplifies how sports sponsorship can drive environmental progress and social impact.