The 2025 National Recycling Awards honored leaders, organizations, and programs advancing recycling and circularity

Santa Monica College has been recognized by the National Recycling Coalition with a 2025 National Recycling Award for its Sustainable Materials Management Program, earning the title of “Outstanding Higher Education Program” at the National Recycling Congress held earlier this month at Wichita State University.

The program — one of the first of its kind at a California community college — offers degrees and certificates focused on zero waste and sustainable materials management. The NRC praised it as “a pioneering community college program … building a vital workforce pipeline for the circular economy.”

“This recognition from the NRC highlights the incredible dedication of

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