Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full operates the first dedicated glass recycling facility in New Orleans, processing residential, commercial, and event glass waste into sand and gravel for coastal restoration across the Gulf South region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Glass Half Full does
Glass Half Full is a New Orleans-based for-profit glass recycling company founded in 2020 by Tulane University seniors, operating the first dedicated glass recycling facility in the city. The company collects glass through a multi-channel service model: a residential subscription pickup service at $20+/month with door-to-door custom crates, commercial pickup contracts with hotels, restaurants, casinos, and government entities, full-service event recycling for festivals and conventions, and 20+ free drop-off hubs across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama operated in partnership with Glassroots.
At its Louisa Street headquarters and a new Chalmette facility under construction, Glass Half Full uses hammer-mill crushers to pulverize collected glass into sand and gravel products sorted by size distribution, which are then sold for coastal restoration, disaster relief, flooring, and new-glass manufacturing applications. The Mardi Gras Bead Recycling Program, operated with the French Quarter Management District and Arc GNO, extends the collection infrastructure to post-Carnival bead waste, while NOLA Alchemy recycled-glass jewelry and branded merchandise provide ancillary e-commerce revenue through glasshalffullproducts.com.
The business model blends recurring subscription revenue, bespoke commercial and event contracts, sales of processed sand and gravel, and community-supported drop-off contributions, with the primary economic engine being volume-based commercial and event recycling fees. The company is privately held, led by co-founder Franziska Trautmann, employs 25+ staff, has recycled over 5.6 million bottles and 7,000+ tons of glass cumulatively, and has raised $6.5 million in a Series 1 led by Benson Capital Partners in August 2024 to fund the Chalmette expansion into the Florida panhandle.
Glass Half Full firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glass Half Full
- Legal name
- Glass Half Full
- Website
- https://glasshalffull.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Glass Half Full operates the first dedicated glass recycling facility in New Orleans, processing residential, commercial, and event glass waste into sand and gravel for coastal restoration across the Gulf South region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Glass Half Full industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Glass Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Waste Collection (56211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Glass Processing & Beneficiation (Cullet Production) (BPALADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Glass Processing & Beneficiation Facilities (EUAIADAF), Source-Separated Recyclables Collection (Dual/Single-Stream) (EUAIAAAN)
Keywords
Where Glass Half Full is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Glass Half Full business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Residential Pickup Subscription: Monthly subscription service for residential glass recycling with door-to-door pickup. Customers receive custom crates delivered to their doorstep and pay a monthly fee starting at $20 for scheduled pickup services.
- Commercial Glass Recycling Services: Full-scale commercial glass recycling services for businesses and organizations. Pricing is based on the amount of glass waste generated, with custom quotes provided for each establishment.
- Event Recycling Services: Full-service glass collection for festivals and special events with bespoke pricing based on event attendance and services requested.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including stickers, tees, totes, and hoodies designed by independent artists. Also includes recycled glass jewelry through NOLA Alchemy collaboration.
- Drop-off Supporter Program: Community support contributions to help cover operational costs of the free recycling drop-off programs, bridging the gap between recyclables value and collection/processing costs.
- Sand and Gravel Products: Sale of recycled glass sand and gravel products for coastal restoration, disaster relief, flooring, and new glass products through glasshalffullproducts.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Residential Pickup Subscription - Starting at $20/month |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial Pickup - Custom Quote |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Event Recycling - Bespoke Pricing |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Drop-off Locations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Glass Half Full product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glass Half Full collects glass waste from residential, commercial, event, and government sources across the Gulf South through subscription door-to-door pickups, custom commercial contracts, event services, and free drop-off hubs. The company processes the collected glass at its New Orleans facility using hammer-mill crushers and sifting, producing graded sand and gravel sold for coastal restoration, construction, flooring, and new glass manufacturing. Ancillary offerings include Mardi Gras bead collection for Arc GNO, recycled glass sandbags, branded merchandise, and recycled-glass jewelry.
Product overview
Glass Half Full operates a multi-service glass recycling ecosystem serving the Gulf South region. The core offerings include Residential Pickups (subscription door-to-door crate service), Commercial Pickups (business glass recycling), Events Recycling (festival and event glass collection), and Free Recycling Drop-offs (community drop-off hubs). The company processes collected glass into sand and gravel products sold for coastal restoration, construction, and manufacturing applications. Ancillary offerings include a Mardi Gras Bead Recycling Program, NOLA Alchemy recycled glass jewelry, and merchandise. Glassroots, a partner organization, operates drop-off sites and coordinates restoration projects. All services collectively divert glass waste from landfills and convert it into functional materials for environmental and community benefit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Pickups Door-to-door glass recycling subscription service delivering custom Glass Half Full crates to residential addresses, with monthly pickup and exchange of filled crates. Serves Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard parishes, Baton Rouge, Northshore, Coastal Mississippi, Alabama (Birmingham, Mobile), and Hattiesburg, MS; subscription starts at $20/month.
- Commercial Pickups Full-scale glass recycling pickups for businesses and organizations across the Gulf South, with custom pricing based on the volume of glass waste generated. Targets restaurants, offices, hotels, casinos, and other commercial establishments seeking to reduce garbage collection costs and ecological footprint.
- Events Recycling Full-service on-site glass collection for festivals, conventions, weddings, and special events, with bespoke pricing based on attendance and services requested. Featured partners include French Quarter Fest, Buku Project, Tales of the Cocktail, and Satchmo Summer Fest.
- Free Recycling Drop-offs Free glass drop-off hubs across the Gulf South where residents can bring sorted glass for recycling. Operated directly by the company and in partnership with Glassroots (28 drop-off sites in New Orleans and Baton Rouge). Main hub located at 3935 Louisa St., New Orleans.
- Mardi Gras Bead Recycling Program Partnership-based Mardi Gras bead and throws collection program that works with hotels across New Orleans to collect unwanted Mardi Gras beads, which are donated to Arc GNO for sorting, packaging, and resale to provide employment for people with intellectual disabilities.
- Sand & Gravel Products Recycled glass sand and gravel products sold through glasshalffullproducts.com for coastal restoration, disaster relief, flooring, construction, and new glass manufacturing applications. Processed at the New Orleans facility using hammer-mill crushers and size-graded sifting.
- Merchandise Exclusive merchandise including stickers, tees, totes, and hoodies designed by independent artists, sold through glasshalffullproducts.com with proceeds supporting recycling and restoration initiatives.
- NOLA Alchemy Recycled Glass Jewelry Handcrafted recycled glass jewelry produced through an exclusive collaboration between Glass Half Full and local artist Andrew Barrows of Liquid Art Glass, sold under the NOLA Alchemy brand and available through the Glass Half Full store with U.S. shipping.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,597,845+ glass bottles recycled to date
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Glass Half Full
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Glass Half Full technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Glass Half Full partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- French Quarter Management District (FQMD)corePartnership with French Quarter Management District to make Mardi Gras more sustainable by collecting unwanted beads and throws from hotels across New Orleans.
- GlassrootscoreGlassroots is a partner organization that operates 28 drop-off locations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, helping Glass Half Full collect glass. They coordinate service-learning opportunities with K-12 schools and universities, and work on restoration and resilience projects together. Glassroots has helped Glass Half Full recycle over 7,000 tons of glass since fall 2022.
- Arc GNOcoreArc GNO is a local organization that provides employment opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities by sorting, packaging, and reselling Mardi Gras beads and throws. Glass Half Full collects unwanted beads from hotels and donates them to Arc GNO.
- ReCoastminorCoastal restoration partner that works with Glass Half Full on coastline restoration projects using native marsh grasses and recycled glass sandbags.
- NOLA Alchemy (Liquid Art Glass)minorExclusive collaboration between Glass Half Full and local artist Andrew Barrows of Liquid Art Glass. Handcrafted jewelry made from 100% recycled glass. Available for pickup at NOLA facility or shipped anywhere in the U.S.
- Common Ground ReliefminorEnvironmental organization that has worked with Glass Half Full and Glassroots on restoration projects including creating a French drain in their tree nursery and coastline restoration work.
- CRCL (Coastal Conservation Association)minorPartner in coastline restoration efforts using native marsh grasses and recycled glass sandbags, working alongside Glass Half Full, Glassroots, ReCoast, and others.
- CSED (Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development)minorPartner in implementing storm drain filters in the Lower Ninth Ward as part of environmental projects to strengthen coastal communities.
- French Quarter FestminorAnnual festival event partner for glass recycling services. Glass Half Full provides on-site glass recycling for the festival.
- Buku ProjectminorEvent partner for glass recycling services at the Buku festival and events.
- Tales of the CocktailminorFeatured event partner providing glass recycling services for the Tales of the Cocktail festival.
- Satchmo Summer FestminorFeatured event partner for glass recycling services at the Satchmo Summer Fest.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Glass Half Full competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Strategic Materials: Largest glass recycler in North America, operating dozens of MRFs that produce cullet for bottles and abrasives; directly comparable business model at much greater scale, including coastal sand and aggregate products.
- Waste Management Inc. Largest U.S. waste and recycling hauler; comparable on residential and commercial glass collection scale, though as one of many streams within a national hauling platform rather than glass-specialist focus.
- Republic Services: National hauling and recycling platform with curbside glass programs across many markets; comparable as a competitor for residential and commercial glass collection contracts.
- O-I Glass: Largest global glass container manufacturer and the dominant buyer of recycled cullet in North America; comparable on the upstream/downstream glass supply chain and as a potential B2B customer for cullet produced by Glass Half Full.
Direct peers
- Ripple Glass: Kansas City-based glass-only recycler operating drop-off sites and processing into cullet for bottle-to-bottle recycling; closest direct analog to Glass Half Full's community-led glass recycling mission.
- Momentum Recycling: Utah-based glass recycling company with residential curbside subscription-style collection and cullet sales to bottle manufacturers; directly comparable subscription and processing model.
Emerging players
- Glass Recycled Surfaces: Processes recycled glass into architectural surfaces and terrazzo; comparable on the downstream side of converting recovered glass into value-added products for construction.
- TerraCycle: Specialty hard-to-recycle waste company operating recycling programs and drop-offs; relevant comparison for community-partnered, mission-driven niche waste streams beyond standard curbside recycling.
Others
- ReCollect Systems: Software provider for municipal recycling and waste collection route scheduling and drop-off finders; comparable on the operational and customer-engagement infrastructure for specialty recycling services.
Regional players
- Encorp / Atlantic Packaging: Canadian bottle depot and glass recycler; comparable bottle-return depot model with cullet sales, though focused on regulated deposit markets rather than subscription recycling.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Glass Half Full social profiles
Digital presenceGlass Half Full compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Glass Half Full financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glass Half Full leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Glass Half Full funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glass Half Full M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Glass Half Full
What does Glass Half Full do?
Glass Half Full collects glass waste from residential, commercial, event, and government sources across the Gulf South through subscription door-to-door pickups, custom commercial contracts, event services, and free drop-off hubs. The company processes the collected glass at its New Orleans facility using hammer-mill crushers and sifting, producing graded sand and gravel sold for coastal restoration, construction, flooring, and new glass manufacturing. Ancillary offerings include Mardi Gras bead collection for Arc GNO, recycled glass sandbags, branded merchandise, and recycled-glass jewelry.
Is Glass Half Full a public or private company?
Glass Half Full is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Glass Half Full founded?
Glass Half Full was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Glass Half Full based?
Glass Half Full is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does Glass Half Full make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Residential Pickup Subscription is the primary driver. The others are commercial Glass Recycling Services, event Recycling Services, merchandise Sales, drop-off Supporter Program and sand and Gravel Products.
Who are Glass Half Full's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Strategic Materials, Waste Management Inc., Republic Services and O-I Glass. Direct peers are Ripple Glass and Momentum Recycling. Emerging players are Glass Recycled Surfaces and TerraCycle. ReCollect Systems is listed as an others. Encorp / Atlantic Packaging is listed as a regional player.
Does Glass Half Full have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glass Half Full.
What industry is Glass Half Full in?
Glass Half Full's product category is Glass Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAG, Glass Processing & Beneficiation (Cullet Production), with a secondary code of EUAIADAF, Glass Processing & Beneficiation Facilities. Its NAICS code is 56211.