State Farm Arena earns zero waste certification for sustainability efforts

State Farm Arena earned a “zero waste” certification from a global sustainability body, the Atlanta Hawks announced Monday.

Green Business Certification gave the arena a TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification, making it the world’s first sports and live entertainment venue to earn the title.

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State Farm Arena earned the certification following an effort starting in 2019. According to a news release, the arena went from diverting only 10% of its waste away from landfills to more than 90%.

“We are honored to receive TRUE Platinum certification from GBCI as we continue to set the standard as a global leader in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Brett Stefansson, Hawks’ Executive Vice President and general manager of State Farm Arena.

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“By pursuing zero waste, State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks recognize the positive impacts of reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills helping us build a sustainable future,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI.

The arena credits the work of multiple vendors for new recycling and composting strategies. More than 500,000 pounds of waste has been diverted during the past Hawks season alone, the release said.

In Feb. 2022, State Farm Arena teamed up with Billie Eilish for the first zero-waste sold-out event on Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever, The World Tour.”

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More information about State Farm Arena’s sustainability efforts can be found on its website.

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