Bend’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater earns 2024 Live Nation awards for sustainability, green practices

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend continues to be recognized as one of the country's most sustainable live entertainment venues, recently earning four Live Nation 2024 Awards for environmental stewardship.

A culmination of efforts put forth by the venue's Green Team and supported by its Sustainability Sponsor, OnPoint Credit Union, Hayden Homes Amphitheater was awarded the following Live Nation honors:

• Second-Highest Inside Venue Diversion Rate for Boutique Venues (87.3%): Hayden Homes Amphitheater diverted more than 97 tons of waste in 2024. A landfill diversion rate measures the percentage of waste successfully redirected from landfills toward alternative waste streams such as composting, recycling and material reuse.
• Second-Lowest Landfill Waste Per Fan for All Venues (0.102 Pounds/Attendee): Thanks to sustainability efforts, each 2024 venue attendee produced an average of  just 1.6 ounces of landfill waste.
• Fifth-Best Accuracy in Waste Reporting: There was only a 1.56% difference between self-reported and hauler data, an indication of Hayden Homes Amphitheater's commitment to transparency and precision in tracking its waste reduction programs.
• Highest Can and Bottle Redemption Value: Hayden Homes Amphitheater ranked first among all venues in bottle and can recycling.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater launched its sustainability program in 2017, initially focusing on waste reduction and management within the venue. Environmental sustainability has since become a driving force within the venue's overall operations, with its Green Team becoming one of the nation's leading sustainability programs.

“As proud stewards of the beautiful ecosystem along the Deschutes River, sustainability is more than a goal to us — it's a core value,” said Beau Eastes, Marketing Director at the Old Mill District and the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. “The dedication of our Green Team continues to set a national benchmark for venues of all sizes. We're thrilled to see these efforts recognized by Live Nation.”

The venue's sustainability programs have consistently trended upward despite hosting a growing number of events. The amphitheater's landfill diversion rate, for example, has shown annual improvements, including a 9% jump (from 78% to 87%) over the last year. This included an extraordinary 99% diversion rate during this year's Dave Matthews Band concert.

According to Eastes, Hayden Homes Amphitheater leaders plan to implement a zero-waste strategy for 2025. This strategy will include replacing all landfill-bound products with alternatives that can be composted, recycled, or reused. Through these changes, they aim to achieve at least a 90% diversion rate throughout next season.

“Each year, we see significant progress in reducing our environmental footprint, and these awards reflect the passion and purpose behind our initiatives,” Eastes said. “We are steadfast in protecting this precious ecosystem and ensuring concertgoers and performers can enjoy it for generations to come.”

About Hayden Homes Amphitheater
The Hayden Homes Amphitheater is an independent, outdoor riverfront amphitheater built in Bend, Oregon’s historic Old Mill District in 2001. Since its first season in 2002, the Amphitheater has hosted more than 1 million guests at the venue for ticketed and free concerts, brew festivals and races. The venue currently accommodates 8,000 patrons for concerts and other events – a welcoming space where music, community, great food and sustainability meet. Learn more at www.bendconcerts.com.