Library Glass Recycling Services Expands to Mid-City

In November, the New Orleans Public Library will expand their partnership with Glassroots to Mid-City Library, increasing their monthly glass recycling programs to a total of four Library locations. The partnership launched last spring at Algiers Regional and Alvar libraries and is sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. A few months later, the service expanded Uptown to Milton H. Latter Memorial Library. Mid-City Library’s first drop-off session will be Monday, Nov. 18, from 4:30-6:30pm.

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’ former program coordinator who helped launch the partnership in 2023.

“The Library drop-off program is a community effort, allowing Glassroots to reach people in the neighborhoods where the libraries are located,” Russianoff said last year.

Since the partnership launched last April, a total of 60,550 pounds of glass has been recycled at the Library, according to Sebastian Brumfield Mejía, Glassroots’ program director.

“We deeply appreciate the Library and Friends’ spirit of collaboration and the enthusiasm we receive each month from new and returning recyclers,” he said. “As a community-based organization, it feels rewarding to connect people with both recycling and Library resources in the same convenient locations.”

Across the three locations, the Library’s glass recycling program sees an average of 150 people every month, Brumfield Mejía said, and Glassroots is excited to see that number grow.

Glassroots at Latter

Last November, the Library expanded a partnership with Glassroots to bring glass recycling services Uptown to Milton H. Latter Memorial Library.

“At our new Mid-City Library glass drop-off, we hope to increase access to glass recycling for nearby residents and to continue serving genuine community and environmental needs,” he said.

Rachel Bailey, head of adult programming at the New Orleans Public Library, helped to launch this service and is delighted to watch it expand throughout the system.

“Working with Glassroots has been such a fulfilling and exciting partnership for the Library,” she said. “It creates an avenue for direct action to be part of a community effort for sustainability and coastal restoration. Since beginning this partnership, Library drop-offs have diverted 60,550 pounds of glass from the landfill. It’s really a wonderful thing and something we can all be proud of. We are thrilled to expand this service to Mid-City.”

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.

“When we see how many people show up at our existing Library drop-offs, we see how much people care about doing the right thing for the environment. We’re happy to continue expanding this important service and taking steps towards making it easier for New Orleanians to recycle glass in their neighborhoods,” Cvitanovic said. “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.”

Last year, 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 is 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. Mid-City Library (4140 Canal St.) will collect glass on the third Monday of the month from 4:30-6:30pm.

Glass will not be accepted outside the drop-off time slot or at any other Library locations. Please do not drop off glass outside of program hours. Unattended glass on the premises is unsafe for everyone and has to be thrown away. 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.