NFL Green Sustainability
Sustainability is a focus for the NFL, and the league is committed to reducing the environmental impact at each of our events.
What you can do:
There are simple steps you can take to help make Draft 2026 more sustainable!
Help us reduce waste
- Watch where you toss – discard your items in the appropriate bins.
- Ensure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry – no foods or liquids remaining.
- Keep plastic bags and wraps out of recycling.
Travel sustainably
- Walk when you can – not only is walking zero emission, it's also a great way to see all the festivities and will likely be the fastest way to get around at and near Draft.
- Utilize public transport – On Draft days, PRT will offer expanded service, and all fares will be free on the Light Rail (The "T"), the Monongahela Incline, and Football Flyer bus routes. See PRT for more details. If you are staying at a hotel, inquire about shuttle options they may provide as well.
- Consider an EV rideshare – if available on your trip, go with a smooth, quiet, zero-emission EV ride, which is often about the same price as a standard ride.
What the NFL is doing:
To improve sustainability at Draft 2026, the NFL is:
Donating materials and food: The NFL is helping reusable materials find a second life after Draft.
- 30+ Donation Organizations: Over 30 local organizations – from food banks, to pet shelters, to after-school programs – will have the opportunity to receive and repurpose Draft items.
- Tons of donations: Last year's Draft donations totaled around $200,000 in food and materials, with hopes to exceed that in Pittsburgh. We expect to donate thousands of pounds of food, and hundreds of thousands of square feet of materials such as carpet, vinyl, plywood, and fence mesh, amongst much more.
Diverting waste: The NFL is boosting recycling efforts, both for fans and behind the scenes.
- Extra bins: Hundreds of extra recycling bins are placed throughout campus for Draft, to help fans quickly and easily discard their recycling.
- Work behind the scenes: Behind the scenes, sustainability staff will be working with janitorial to keep recycling streams clean, to reduce contamination and maximize waste diversion from landfills.
Looking beyond Draft 2026: The NFL aims to leave a lasting "green legacy" in Pittsburgh and beyond.
- Lasting legacy in Pittsburgh: The NFL and Visit Pittsburgh produced an environmental and sustainability legacy plan designed to ensure the event leaves a lasting, positive impact across the region. Read more at Visit Pittsburgh.
- Long-term efforts: Sustainability is a long-term investment and process. The NFL is proud of the progress made so far and is committed to advancing sustainability across a growing range of future events.
