WM Phoenix Open marks 15th year

This year, WM is celebrating its 15^th anniversary as title sponsor of the WM Phoenix Open, Feb. 5-11 at TPC Scottsdale, which it describes as one of the world’s largest certified zero-waste sporting events. In that time, the WM Phoenix Open has demonstrated how a major sporting event can minimize environmental impacts and benefit the community by recovering more than 15.17 million pounds of material, addressing hunger in the community and fundraising for Arizona charities, the company says. 

WM and tournament host, The Thunderbirds, are further advancing the tournament’s dual missions of leadership in sustainability and charitable giving in 2024 with the new WM Phoenix Open Working For Tomorrow Fund, which supports communities across Arizona. Beneficiaries of the fund will include water restoration projects through Change The Course, an initiative working to ensure clean and reliable water, renewable energy initiatives on Tribal Nations and efforts to eliminate food waste and address hunger through Waste Not, a local nonprofit organization.

Tournament attendees can help raise money for the WM Phoenix Open Working For Tomorrow Fund by wearing green Saturday, Feb. 10, the tournament’s annual Green Out Day. For every person who wears green to the third round, $1 will be donated to the fund. In addition, attendees can participate in a raffle at the WM Green Scene in the Fan Zone. The winner will receive 50 percent of the raffle pot, and the other 50 percent will be donated to the WM Phoenix Open Working For Tomorrow Fund.

Since WM became title sponsor in 2010, the company says the tournament has raised more than $124 million for local charities, including $14.5 million from the 2023 tournament alone.  

“The WM Phoenix Open presents a unique opportunity to support our communities and demonstrate our brand promise—Always Working For A Sustainable Tomorrow,” says Mike Watson, senior vice president and chief customer officer at WM. “This is our 15th year working with the Thunderbirds to bring this incredible event to life while raising money for local charities, and I’m proud to say our shared commitment to making a positive impact on our communities and the environment has never been stronger.” 

Soon after becoming title sponsor in 2010, WM imagined an event where nothing goes to waste. By 2013, the WM Phoenix Open was a zero-waste event with all materials either recycled, composted, donated, reused or used to recover energy and create fuel.

Houston-based WM is a leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them achieve their sustainability goals.