New York City produces enormous amounts of glass waste, much of it from bars and restaurants. Yet there is no public, granular data that shows how much glass is generated, where it accumulates, or how it might be better reused.

This project is a small, early-stage effort to begin filling that gap.

We are currently collecting survey-based estimates from bars and restaurants across NYC to better understand glass generation patterns at the block and neighborhood scale. The goal is not precision, but visibility — to make an otherwise invisible waste stream legible.

This project is in its pilot data-collection phase.

This project begins from a simple premise:
before designing solutions, we need to understand the material reality on the ground.

By collecting self-reported data directly from bars and restaurants and mapping it at a neighborhood level, this project aims to support more informed conversations about reuse, labor, infrastructure, and policy.

TRANSPARENCY

This project is independently run and currently unfunded.

We prioritize:

• Transparency

• Non-extractive data practices

• Respect for hospitality workers and recycling labor

What we are collecting

We collect estimated weekly glass output from bars and restaurants, based on inventory and sales patterns (e.g. beer, wine, liquor bottles).

Data is collected via a short, voluntary survey designed to minimize time burden on staff.

What this data is and is not

• This data is estimated, not weighed or audited.

• It is intended to show relative volume and concentration, not exact tonnage.

• It is not a compliance or enforcement tool.

How data is used

• Individual responses are anonymized.

• Data is aggregated at the block or neighborhood level.

• Results are used to identify patterns, not rank or evaluate businesses.

Limitations

• Participation is voluntary and non-random.

• Estimates vary by reporting style.

• Early data will be incomplete.

These limitations are acknowledged openly and updated as the project evolves.