Last Friday, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, in partnership with Novelis, a leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, hosted a celebration event to conclude the Novelis Community Recycling Challenge at David T. Howard Middle School.
The challenge entailed having the three grade levels collect as many recyclable items as they could. The sixth grade was chosen as the contest winners, having collected nearly three times the amount of recyclables as their competitors.
“It is heartening to see the next generation so committed to making a positive impact on our community and environment. Their dedication to recycling and sustainability is truly inspiring,” said Sofi Armenakian, Head of Sustainable Strategy for the Hawks and State Farm Arena. “We’re thrilled to partner with Novelis to host this celebration, recognizing the incredible efforts of the students at David T. Howard Middle School. This contest not only highlights the importance of recycling but also fosters a sense of responsibility and teamwork among the students. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Novelis and supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.”
The celebration provided the students with a pizza party and featured an appearance by CanMan, the mascot of Novelis, and included entertainment from the ATL Dancers, Hawks Flight Crew, and DJ Stevo. The goal of this celebration was to reward the students for their efforts and teach new sustainable habits that can be incorporated into their everyday lives.
“We are incredibly proud to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the students at David T. Howard Middle School towards recycling and sustainability. Their efforts in the Community Recycling Challenge demonstrate the power of collective action in making a positive impact on our environment.” said Greg Schlicht, Senior Vice President, Global Beverage Packaging at Novelis.
In February 2025, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena and Novelis announced that they extended their sustainability-focused partnership. Since 2021, the downtown venue and Novelis, headquartered just ten minutes away in Buckhead, continue to leverage the power of live sports and entertainment to spread awareness about the importance of recycling and sustainability.
The Hawks & State Farm Arena continue to lead the way in sustainability efforts. Since May 2021, the venue has consistently diverted more than 90 percent of fan-generated waste from landfills. In April 2022, Green Business Certification Inc., the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, announced that State Farm Arena earned TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification, which has since been re-certified twice (2023, 2024).
To learn more about the organizations’ commitment to sustainability, visit StateFarmArena.com/sustainability.
