How the Melbourne Cricket Club is ensuring the MCG is a leader in environmental sustainability

A SEA foundation member, the MCG is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic sporting grounds. 

Each year, millions of spectators flock to the stadium to watch their favourite teams compete on the ultimate stage for sporting glory.

On the sustainability front however, the mentality is not about competition, but rather about playing for the same team.

Peter Wearne, MCC General Manager – Facilities, explains this journey has focused on the MCG being perceived as more than just a sporting venue.

“It is a venue that can operate with environmental consciousness and have a positive effect on the community,” he says.

Recycling and materials use is just one example of the MCG’s commitment to environmental sustainability. By focusing on reducing waste to landfill, the MCG has increased the amount of recycled waste from 61 percent in 2013 to 78 percent in 2019, while reducing their organic waste by 80 percent. The ‘G’ has also invested in an organics dehydrator to help turn food and other organic waste into compost. 

And, while the club has enjoyed considerable success with recent projects, it hasn’t rested on its laurels. A new Sustainability Plan is currently in the works, which will be implemented alongside the new MCG Strategy and define its objectives for the next few years.