Santa Monica College received a 2025 National Recycling Award from the National Recycling Coalition, recognized as an "Outstanding Higher Education Program" for its pioneering Sustainable Materials Management Program.
The award was presented during the National Recycling Congress at Wichita State University in early October. SMC was honored alongside Stanford University, last year's recipient in the same category.
The NRC stated that SMC's program was "a pioneering community college program offering degrees and certificates in zero waste and sustainable materials management, building a vital workforce pipeline for the circular economy."
"This recognition highlights the incredible dedication of our students, faculty, and partners who are shaping the future of sustainability," said SMC Professor Victoria Charles, who accepted the award. "It brings well-deserved attention to the real-world, hands-on learning happening at Santa Monica College."
The awards ceremony, led by Peter Adrian of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, celebrated impactful leaders advancing recycling, organics management and circularity nationwide. More than 60 nominations were submitted across various categories.
SMC's Sustainable Materials Management program offers two paths providing academic instruction and real-world training. Students learn practical strategies to help organizations reduce waste, lower costs and improve operational efficiency—skills increasingly valued across public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Other award winners included Salinas Valley Recycles for Outstanding K-12 School Program, Nebraska State Senator Jana Hughes as Outstanding Elected Leader, and Terry Craghead for Outstanding Diversity Leadership.
More information about degree and certificate options is available at smc.edu/smm. Additional details about award winners can be found at nrcrecycles.org.
Edited by SMDP Staff