NEW ORLEANS – Bars, hotels and restaurants in the French Quarter now have access to free glass recycling, thanks to a program by French Quarter Management District (FQMD) that is underwriting the collection of glass in the hospitality-centric neighborhood. The program, called “Raise the Bar,” allows French Quarter bars, restaurants and hotels to easily recycle wine and beer bottles as well as other glass and aluminum items. Currently, New Orleans does not offer glass recycling as part of sanitation services.
The funding, provided by FQMD as part of a Keep Louisiana Beautiful initiative, covers one month of free recycling services. Also included: waived onboarding and set up fees, free indoor glass and aluminum collection bins and operational support from Glass Half Full, the service provider who recycles glass into materials for coastal restoration and other uses.
“French Quarter businesses generate a high volume of landfill waste, facing practical barriers to recycling glass,” said FQMD Executive Director Michelle Courseault.
“Raise the Bar removes those barriers and creates a clear path to on-going recycling adoption,” she said. Similar programs in 2024 and 2025 resulted in more than 100,000 lbs. of waste diverted from landfills.
The FQMD organizers share it works every day to make the French Quarter a better place to live, work and visit. FQMD is a state political subdivision whose many security and quality of life programs positively affect life in and around the French Quarter. Two examples of the organization fulfilling its mission are 1) the inspection, repair and ongoing maintenance of the more than 900 streetlights in the French Quarter and 2) the ongoing funding of an additional 10,500 policing hours in the historic district. fqmd.org/contact-us
The “Raise the Bar” recycling pilot program is currently underway and runs through April 15th. After the promotion, businesses can opt to continue recycling services. French Quarter businesses currently participating in the Raise the Bar program include Creole Cookery, Italian Barrel, The MISI, Prytania Theatres at Canal Place, Hotel Provincial and Antoine’s.
Bars, hotels and restaurants interested in participating in the free program and contact ricky@glasshalffull.co or call 504-481-4672.