MLB Marks One Year of Sustainability Partnership with WM on Earth Day

The first year of the league’s sustainability initiative showcases major progress in waste diversion, energy use, and water conservation.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Apr 22, 2025

Major League Baseball and WM (formerly Waste Management) are celebrating one year of their official sustainability partnership this Earth Day. WM will once again serve as the presenting partner of MLB’s Earth Day and MLB Green Week activations.

During the 2024 season, MLB and WM recovered more than 20 tons of recyclable materials at major events, including MLB at Rickwood Field and All-Star Week. The partnership, which began in 2024, marked MLB’s first league-wide collaboration with an official sustainability partner.

As part of the agreement, WM provides its advisory services free of charge to all 30 MLB clubs. These services help teams advance sustainability goals such as waste reduction, recycling, and greenhouse gas emissions management.

League-Wide Sustainability Highlights

All 30 Major League ballparks now operate with LED field lighting, improving energy efficiency. Nearly every club—29 out of 30—provides bike or scooter parking for fans, helping to reduce transportation-related emissions. Additionally, 27 clubs offer water refill stations for fans to encourage reusable bottle use.

Composting has also become a significant part of waste diversion strategies, with 25 clubs now including composting as a standard waste stream. Food donation efforts are widespread as well, with 24 teams operating formal programs to redirect surplus food to local communities.

Twenty clubs have installed electric vehicle charging stations at their ballparks. Another 20 teams conduct post-game dual-stream recycling collections to separate and recover recyclable materials more effectively. Thirteen ballparks have also introduced on-site gardens, promoting local food and environmental education.

A complete overview of club sustainability initiatives is available at MLB.com/Green.

New Awards Highlight Club Achievements

In 2024, MLB expanded its sustainability recognition program beyond the Green Glove Award. The league introduced three new awards: the Power Pitch Award, the H2O Home Run Award, and the Eco-Slugger Innovation Award.

The San Diego Padres received the Green Glove Award for the first time, achieving a waste diversion rate of over 95 percent and increasing total materials diverted by 46 percent compared to the previous year.

The Milwaukee Brewers earned the Power Pitch Award after reducing their energy usage by 16 percent in 2024.

The Seattle Mariners took home the H2O Home Run Award for cutting water usage by 26 percent compared to the previous season.

The Colorado Rockies received the Eco-Slugger Innovation Award. The team was recognized for its stormwater management program, a reusable cup pilot, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability both at the ballpark and among local youth.

All-Star Week Earns ‘Gold Status’

MLB was honored with “Gold Status” from the Council for Responsible Sport for its environmental initiatives during the 2024 All-Star Week in Arlington, Texas. The league achieved a sixfold increase in waste diversion at Globe Life Field, thanks to collaboration with WM.

MLB has received sustainability certifications for every All-Star Week since 2018, with the exception of 2020 when the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous host cities include Washington, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Arlington.

As one of the first major sports leagues to join the Green Sports Alliance, MLB continues to lead in environmental responsibility. All 30 clubs are active members of the alliance, reinforcing the league’s commitment to sustainable practices across the sport.