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The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has this week been recognised for its achievements in sustainability, receiving the inaugural #SEA Change Solutions award at the Sports Environment Alliance summit held in Melbourne.

As a founding member of the Sports Environment Alliance, the MCC has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to operating Australia's most iconic stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), in an environmentally responsible manner.

Ongoing upgrades and efforts in water conservation, environmental protection, energy efficiency and waste management have significantly improved the stadium's green credentials, and confirmed the MCG's standing as one of the most sustainable stadia in the world.

The award comes in the midst of National Recycling Week, which runs from 7th to 13th November.

As host of more than 90 major sporting events and 3.5 million visitors annually, it is no surprise that the MCG produces a lot of rubbish - from pie wrappers and plastic cups to cardboard packaging and food waste.

However, thanks to comprehensive waste recycling efforts, in 2016 alone the stadium has been able to divert more than 1377 tones of rubbish from landfill, recycling 77.7% of all waste created at the venue.

This is achieved through strict policies regarding the materials and products allowed to be brought into the stadium, and thorough waste segregation via 20 different streams - including glass, organics, soil and turf and soft plastics.

MCC General Manager - Facilities Peter Wearne explains “we are very pleased to receive this recognition from the Sport Environment Alliance.

"It is a fantastic endorsement by leaders within our industry that the MCG's sustainability efforts are at the forefront of best practice."

"Beyond this accolade we are proud of the continued improvement of our recycling facilities at the MCG.

"Approximately 10 years ago we were only recycling 10-15% of waste produced during events, so to now be above 70% and rising is a great achievement."

The MCC remains at the forefront of water conservation, with the innovative underground water recycling facility housed outside the ground providing secure, long-term sustainable water supply to the heritage-listed Yarra Park and MCG.

Working in tandem with Siemens the MCC has also recently completed a significant energy efficiency upgrade which has seen the MCG generate enough energy savings annually to power more than 835 houses for a year.

Wearne concluded “we have a strong belief in the importance of operating the MCG in an environmentally responsible manner and we look forward to further improvements in the years to come.”

5th September 2016 - SPORTS ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE TO STAGE INAUGURAL SUMMIT

7th April 2016 - VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT MOVES TO DROUGHT PROOF COMMUNITY SPORT AND RECREATION

1st February 2015 - REPORT SUGGESTS ELITE AND GRASSROOTS SPORT AT RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

21st November 2014 - SIEMENS HELPS MCG TAKE A LEAD IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

17th October 2014 - MCG WATER RECYCLING FACILITY SAVES ALMOST 240 MILLION LITRES 

23rd February 2013 - IMPROVING SPORT’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

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