The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has been recognised for its achievements in sustainability, receiving an 'Innovator of the Year' award from the Green Sports Alliance.

Now in its seventh year, the global Green Sports Alliance awards recognise and applaud the best in sports and sustainability, and those leading the sports greening movement.

The MCC, stadium manager of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, has invested heavily in recycling and waste management systems at the iconic sporting stadium.

In 2018 the MCG became the first sporting venue to close the loop on organics recycling, with waste produced at the stadium treated in-house via an organics dehydrator.

Comprised largely of food and turf materials, the waste is repurposed into a soil-additive that is being used to sustain the heritage-listed Yarra Park which surrounds the stadium, as well as being donated to local community gardens and charitable groups.

Not only does the dehydrator allow the MCC to take pressure off local waste treatment facilities and avoid the CO2 emissions associated with transportation, it is also helping build the soil profile and sustain the health of Yarra Park so it can be enjoyed by future generations.

Having been advised of the upcoming presentation of the Award, MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox said the club was thrilled to be recognised for its efforts, commenting “the MCC has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to operating the MCG in an environmentally responsible manner. 10 years ago we were recycling around 15% of waste produced at the stadium - happily that figure is now above 83% and growing.

"We take our role as an environmental stadium seriously and are increasingly prepared to try new things for, hopefully, the benefit of the wider sports and venue industry."

"It is an honour to be recognised alongside other global leaders in sports sustainability, and we look forward to continuing to improve our environmental performance, as well as helping support others venues to do similar."

The official award presentation for the Green Sports Alliance awards will take place on 26th June at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA.

Other organisations recognised in the awards include the U.S. Bank Stadium for the zero-waste Super Bowl LII, and the Raka 7s Rugby Tournament which was Fiji's first plastic-free sporting event.

Click here to view the full list of award winners.

13th September 2017 - MCG LAUNCHES ENERGY SHARING INITIATIVE 

22nd March 2017 - MCG SET TO BREAK CROWD ATTENDANCE RECORDS

8th December 2016 - LANDMARK STUDY FINDS SPORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED 

10th November 2016 - MCG ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS RECOGNISED AT SPORT SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 

25th September 2016 - 1.2 MILLION PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTING SCHOOLS PROGRAM 

4th March 2016 - CEFC PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES

13th October 2015 - SPORT INCLUDED IN UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT GOALS

19th July 2015 - HOK ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN SPORTS ALLIANCE 

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

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