In April, the New Orleans Public Library and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library teamed up with Glassroots to launch free glass recycling drop-off stations every month at two Library locations — Algiers Regional Library on the West Bank and Alvar Library in the Bywater. Over the next seven months, the partnership diverted a total of 5,150 pounds of glass from landfills and into green initiatives, including some focused on combatting coastal erosion.
Starting November 17, the Library is expanding the service by launching a new monthly drop-off at Milton H. Latter Memorial Library. With no other Glassroots drop-offs in the neighborhood, the Library is excited to fill that need, according to Deputy Director Tamyka Miles.
“The Library is dedicated to providing unique and impactful services to our residents, with a goal of enriching communities and decreasing barriers,” Miles said. “We’ve been thrilled by the success of our Alvar and Algiers drop-off services and are excited to further the impact of this partnership by offering this resource in a new neighborhood.”
Glassroots is the non-profit arm of Glass Half Full, the only glass recycling facility in New Orleans to offer free services to residents. Located in New Orleans East, the Glass Half Full drop-off center may be difficult for all residents to access, which is why satellite drop-off stations are so important, according to Natalie Russianoff, Glassroots’ program coordinator.
“The Library Drop-Off program is a community effort, allowing Glassroots to reach people in the neighborhoods where the libraries are located,” Russianoff said. “Each month I see the same group of people faithfully recycling, with a mix of new folks who become returners the following month. It feels really special to connect with the Library’s community and bring them into our own.”
Since the partnership launched, Shannan Cvitanovic, executive director of the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, said they’ve received patron requests for more glass recycling services and are proud to be answering those calls.
“We’ve had such positive responses since we started this service in the spring and we’re so excited top build on that success,” Cvitanovic said. “Over the past few months, Glassroots, the Library, and the Friends have worked together to divert thousands of pounds of glass from landfills at our Algiers and Alvar drop-off locations. As we add more recycling drop-off locations, we’re helping to move New Orleans towards being a cleaner and more sustainable city, and I think that’s a wonderful thing.”
Glass Half Full Executive Director Franziska Trautmann said partnering with organizations like the Library is vital to achieve their goals of making New Orleans a green city.
“The Library has been an incredible partner as we work to expand accessibility to recycling throughout New Orleans. I hope this partnership can continue to educate residents on the valuable resources at their local libraries, including glass recycling,” she said.
The glass collected from this program will be turned into recycled sand and cullet through Glassroots’ partner organization, Glass Half Full. The sand will be used towards many projects including those in coastal restoration, eco-construction, and disaster relief.
Glassroots collects glass on the third Tuesday of the month at the Alvar location in the Bywater (913 Alvar St.), every third Thursday in Algiers (3014 Holiday Dr.), and at Latter (5120 St. Charles Ave.) on the third Friday of the month. All three drop-off services start at 10:30am and end at 12:30pm. Glass will not be accepted outside the drop-off time slot or at any other Library locations. Visit nolalibrary.co/glassroots to find a Library drop-off near you.
Glass Half Full’s drop-off hub is located at 3925 Louisa St. and is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am-5:30pm and on Saturdays from 9am-4pm.
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The New Orleans Public Library is expanding a popular glass recycling service to Milton H. Latter Memorial Library.
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Monday – Thursday 10am – 6pm
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Sunday Closed
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2 thoughts on “Library Partnership Brings Glass Recycling Uptown”
Just to be clear, glass drop off is from 10:30am to 12:30pm? There are a couple typos, I think: ” All three drop-off services start at 10:30pm and 12:30pm”
Thank you for catching that, Nancy. Yes, drop off is 10:30am – 12:30pm. The blog post has been corrected.