D-Backs Lead the Charge with Revolutionary Reusable Cup Initiative

Arizona is the first MLB team to install a reusable cup program. Here’s a little more about the initiative.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks are integrating sustainability into their operations.

In July, the D-backs pioneered a reusable cup program, becoming the first MLB team and professional Arizona sports venue to do so.

“It’s something that we’ve been committed to for a long time,” said Ami Lyn Pierce, Diamondbacks VP of government affairs. “We feel like it’s part of our responsibility to the community.”

The initiative aims to reduce single-use waste by reusing cups for multiple games.

“We certainly have an expectation that’s going to be very popular, and it has been so far,” Pierce added.

The D-backs partnered with Bold Reuse, which opened the state’s first ‘wash hub’ in July, located near Chase Field.

“Once we had operations ready, we asked the teams who’s ready to go and the Diamondbacks signed up,” said Heather Watkins, Chief Revenue Officer of Bold Reuse.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality provided $208,000 in grant money for the wash hub, the first such grant in 14 years. The hub had its grand opening in July.

“Oh, I was so excited,” said J.B. Shaw, Recycling Coordinator of ADEQ. “We don’t have a lot of reuse in Arizona yet. So, we’re really trying to build that market.”

The program is currently in a testing phase, located in the Bar-S All-You-Can-Eat seats. Marked bins are available for disposing of the cups after use. The cups are then taken to the wash hub, cleaned, and returned to Chase Field.

“We’re seeing between 900 to 1000 cups a game,” said Watkins. “We are doing it in partnership with Pepsi. If this is successful we’re hoping to launch it stadium-wide next season.”

The program started in July and saw an 85% return rate in the first few weeks. 

“This is actually what I’m most excited about,” said Watkins. “People are actually putting it into the right return bin and not into landfill without us asking.”

In the first five days, over 2,100 cups were washed and returned. The hub operates seven days a week and can wash 100,000 cups a day with four employees.

According to Bold Reuse, a reusable cup creates 83% less carbon dioxide than a compostable cup after 25 uses.

“It’s going to reduce the landfill which improves our soil quality, air quality, water quality, protects the public and our health,” Shaw stated.

Bold Reuse also collaborates with other companies around Arizona and the country. Watkins, an Arizona State graduate, helped start the business in Portland where she now resides.

“The Portland Trailblazers came on board with the stadium-wide reuse implementation, everyone in the country wants it,” said Watkins. “The fact that Phoenix is one of the first cities to get a hub like this is really exciting.”