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WestRock Partners with World Champion Atlanta Braves for a Recycling Home Run

 

Sustainability partnership at Truist Park collects 203 tons of recyclables during 2021 season

Atlanta Braves recycling partnership WestRock

As the official recycling partner of the Atlanta Braves since 2019, WestRock teamed up with the 2021 world champions and Coca-Cola to donate recycling bins to position throughout the ballpark. Fans can place all recyclable food and drink packaging—including plastic, paper, metal and glass—in the same recycling bin, instead of having to sort by material. WestRock collects and transports the recyclables to their single stream recycling facility in Marietta, Georgia, where the contents are sorted and processed to be repurposed into new products and packaging. Fiber-based materials are recycled into rolls of liner, which ultimately are used to create new boxes and kraft bags.

 

Atlanta Braves recycling partnership WestRock

To celebrate this partnership, the Braves and WestRock hosted a Green Game at Truist Park on Aug. 22, 2021, with the WestRock team throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

“The Atlanta Braves are committed to creating a sustainable ballpark, and our ability to redirect waste to recycling facilities at a high level would not be possible without the commitment of WestRock,” said Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves President and CEO. “This partnership directly diverts recyclable materials from landfills.” 

In 2021, this partnership proved especially essential. The longer season and incredible sell-out crowds that accompany a World Series championship also create a higher potential for waste, making it even more important to prioritize sustainability. During the 2021 Atlanta Braves winning season, WestRock collected 203 tons of recyclable material. That’s equivalent to the weight of nearly 200,000 baseball bats! The success of this partnership exemplifies one of the core beliefs at WestRock: When we work together, we can build a more sustainable future for everyone.

When the Braves hit the field again in spring, concessions will be served in food trays and packaging made from the previous year’s discarded recyclables. This is the circular economy in action and for superstitious sports fans, maybe a hint of good mojo carried over from a championship season.