Hawks, State Farm Arena Mark Earth Day with Major Sustainability Milestone

On Earth Day, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena highlighted a major achievement in their ongoing sustainability efforts, announcing that more than 13 million pounds of waste have been diverted from landfills since launching their zero-waste initiative.

The downtown venue has recycled nearly five million pounds of materials, including aluminum, plastic, glass and cardboard, while composting over three million pounds of food and organic waste. In addition, more than three million pounds of electronics, clothing and other items have been repurposed.

Since May 2021, State Farm Arena has consistently diverted at least 90 percent of its waste away from landfills. That commitment led to a historic milestone in April 2022, when the venue became the first sports and live entertainment facility in the world to earn TRUE Platinum certification for zero waste.

“We continue to lead the sports and entertainment industry in sustainability,” said Amanda Mann, Chief Facilities Officer for the Hawks and State Farm Arena. “We were the first sports and live entertainment venue in the world to receive TRUE Platinum certification for zero waste, and every day, we are continuing to prioritize our community by putting in the work to lessen our environmental footprint.”

The organization’s sustainability efforts include recycling more than 5 million pounds of materials, composting nearly 4 million pounds of food and organic matter, and donating or reusing over 3 million pounds of goods such as electronics, clothing and pallets. The arena has also reduced waste by nearly 700,000 pounds through initiatives like eliminating paper tickets and reducing single-use items.

“We are grateful for our industry-leading sustainability partnerships that have allowed us to significantly enhance our venue’s efforts in this space,” said Andrew Saltzman, President of Business Enterprise and Chief Commercial Officer for the Hawks and State Farm Arena. “We are incredibly thankful to everyone who makes our sustainability goals a priority, including our fans, partners and team members.”

State Farm Arena’s sustainability strategy is supported by a network of partnerships. Collaborations with Novelis have strengthened aluminum recycling efforts, while Kimberly-Clark Professional has helped implement smart restroom technology to reduce product waste. Additional partnerships with Smurfit Westrock, Honeywell and Georgia Natural Gas have contributed to improvements in recycling processes, energy efficiency and carbon offset initiatives.

Beyond its environmental impact, State Farm Arena continues to rank among the top venues globally. The arena finished fifth in the United States and seventh worldwide in Billboard’s 2025 Top Venues ranking for its size category, marking its third consecutive year in the global top 10.

As the Hawks continue their push both on and off the court, the organization’s commitment to sustainability remains a central part of its long-term vision—setting a benchmark for venues across the sports and entertainment industry.

To learn more about how the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena are leading the way in sustainability efforts across the sports and entertainment industry, visitStateFarmArena.com/sustainability.