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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is BackYard Sapphire? 

Founding members:

  • Tina Crapsi

  • Dawn Vincent

  • Millie Vincent

  • Sebastian Crapsi

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Board members:

  • Shantell Gomez

  • Christina Hidalgo

  • Peter Manganello

  • Paige Krause

  • Tala Voosoghi

 

​​What is BackYard Sapphire? 

BackYard Sapphire is a women-owned, community-driven organization dedicated to improving the lives of the people of South Louisiana through glass recycling and creative repurposing. We collect glass waste from the community and transform it into sustainable products available for purchase.

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What kind of glass do you accept?
We accept clean glass food and beverage containers—basically, anything from your kitchen! Please rinse the glass thoroughly. Removing labels is optional but appreciated. If you are dropping off, please bring your glass in a reusable box or bin—no plastic bags, please!

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Do you recycle anything besides glass?
Yes! In addition to glass, we accept:

  • Aluminum cans 

  • Prescription bottles

  • Egg cartons

  • 5-gallon buckets

  • Cracked terracotta pots

  • Mesh produce bags (no crawfish sacks)

  • Christmas lights and Mardi Gras beads

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Do I need to remove labels or caps?
Labels?

No, but removing them makes the process smoother.


Caps?

Yes! Plastic caps go in the trash, but we do recycle corks and metal lids.

 

What items do you NOT accept?
Unfortunately, we cannot recycle:

  • Unrinsed food jars

  • Baking dishes

  • Microwave plates

  • Mirrors

  • Lightbulbs

  • Window panes

  • Leaded glass

  • Broken glass (for safety reasons)

  • Candle holders

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Where can I drop off my glass for recycling?
You can bring your glass to:

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How do you recycle glass?
We collect it, crush it using our annihilator or glass-to-sand machine, sift it, and transform it into sustainable products.

 

Check out our Products page to see what we create!

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Is Glass Mulch sharp?
Surprisingly, no! Our glass is tumbled smooth, so you can run your hands through it without issue. We still recommend wearing gloves while gardening, just as a precaution. Even pets and kids can safely walk on glass mulch!

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Why do I have to pay for recycling?
Unfortunately, Lafayette Parish does not offer glass recycling pickup. BackYard Sapphire is a grassroots effort—we take on the entire process, from collection to crushing to community outreach. A small fee helps keep our operations running.  We rely solely on community support with no outside funding. We work hard to keep costs low so that glass recycling remains accessible to everyone!

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Where can I buy your Glass Mulch?
You can find our products at:

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What can I do with crushed glass?
Endless possibilities! Use it for:
🌿 Garden beds & planters
🎨 Art & DIY projects
🐠 Aquariums & vases
🏡 Walkways, paver bedding, and landscaping accents
♻️ Eco-friendly alternatives to pea gravel, beach glass, and sand

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Check out our Gallery to see how our community puts it to use!

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Do you provide event recycling?
Yes! If your event generates a lot of glass or aluminum waste, we can help. We’ll bring recycling bins, collect the materials, and ensure everything is properly recycled—cutting down on landfill waste.

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Where can I use Glass Mulch in my landscaping?
Think of it like pea gravel! It’s great for:

  • Lining walkways & garden beds

  • Flood control (when bagged)

  • Paver bedding & decorative accents

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Glass mulch is very durable, drains well, and won’t wash away in heavy rain. You can even use it to highlight that quirky lawn statue you love!

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How Can I Help?

There are plenty of ways to support our mission!

🛠 Volunteer – Get hands-on and help us recycle glass by clicking here.

💰 Donate – Support our efforts to keep glass out of landfills by clicking here.

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Every bottle saved, every hour volunteered, and every donation makes a difference. Thank you for being part of the solution!

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