Empty Harvest

About Us

Glass Cardboard and cork from area wineries, distilleries and breweries end up in our landfill.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

We estimate that 75-100 tons of glass, cardboard and cork from area businesses are added to the landfill each year.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

With space running out we can divert material that takes 1,000,000 years to decompose.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

There is ample demand locally for glass sand, the most prominent of which is the creation of “glassphalt”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at jeff@emptyharvest.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

I am a local business, what do you charge?

Here is our rate structure:

$20/pickup (>2 cases, <15 cases)

$35/pickup (.15 cases, <30 cases)

$50/pickup (.30 cases, <56 cases

$65/pickup (.56 cases)

For pickups in counties adjacent to Gillespie and Blanco a small trip charge may apply, please contact us for more information.

How are billings handled?

We are a small, volunteer run non-profit so our goal is to keep expenses to a minimum. Billing, tracking and collections take time and money so our STRONG preference is to collect upon each schedule pickup. We accept all majors form of credit cards via PayPal or Square.

My business simply doesn't need another cost, why do this?

Aside from the obvious environmental benefits to your community and the planet you can actually save money with our services. Glass (and cardboard) waste takes as much as 20% of your dumpster capacity so eliminating that waste reduces the number of times you have to service that dumpster.

Will you offer a drop-off location?

Not at this time. Our entire model depends on a revenue stream from collections, donations, grants, etc. and a drop-off location produces none of these. It may be possible in the future to host periodic, manned, drop-off events (with suggested donations collected) but we are currently focusing on servicing the concentrated sources of generation for these materials..

How else might this benefit my business?

Businesses today often strive to be better stewards of the environment. Sustainable farming, organics and recycling are the largest contributors to your "green credentials" and are important to a growing number of your customers. Adopting industry-leading practices let customers know you are aware of the environmental impact of your business and care enough to minimize it.

We will also provide realtime statistics (#recycled, weight recycled, etc.) to enhance your marketing opportunities.

I can't get beyond adding another cost, do I have options?

Absolutely! Any business may offset this cost AND (potentially) help Empty Harvest raise funds to continue, improve and expand our operations by:

offering guests the OPTION of rounding their tab up the nearest dollar or donate $1, $2 or $5 to recyclying;
apply an "eco fee" of $1 per bottle sold on site;
apply an "eco fee" to wine club members of $2/case shipped or $.25/bottle (allow members to opt out if desired)

Studies and surveys show most customers are willing to pay a touch more for services that benefit the environment. In any event, all of the above would be optional to customers.

I’m still stuck on adding another cost, help me understand the dollars and cents of this.

As mentioned, your customers are increasingly expecting businesses to be “green” so showing leadership on your side and, perhaps offering them the OPTION to participate, will set your business apart. From the expense point of view you have the option of deducting this cost as an operating expense OR deducting 100% as a charitable donation.

So, hard numbers:

5 cases/week $20/60=.33/bottle

10 cases/week $20/120= .16/bottle

15 cases/week $20/180=.11/bottle

20 cases/week $35/240=.15/bottle

25 cases/week $35/300=.12/bottle

30 cases/week $35/360=.10/bottle

35 cases/week $50/420=.12/bottle

40 cases/week $50/480=.10/bottle

45 cases/week $50/540=.09/bottle

50 cases/week $50/600=.08/bottle

60/cases/week $65/720=.09/bottle

So, from $.08 to $.16 per bottle is all that is added to your overall COGS and you have the option of writing off 100% of that or providing customers a choice to offset it completely.

We’re hoping you‘ll see this small fee as less of a burden when you consider the ways it can be offset and for the marketing opportunity it presents.

How's It Going So Far? Let's See Some Results!

We officially began offering services on September 1, 2025. As you can see by the numbers below, we began slowly but are definitely picking up steam! October saw a dramatic increase in collections thanks to a number of factors, not the least of which was our participation as the "recycling partner" for the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival.

We have collected glass, cardboard and cork from 55 individual brands (several wineries have several brands so the actual number of wineries collected from is a bit smaller). This is a substantial number, the bad new is that only a few of these are routine customers. We continually work to fix that but also need your help. Ask your favorite winery if they recycle and, if not, why not?

RESULTS:

No. Bottles No. Boxes

September 1,116 231

October 6,415 320

🌍 YTD TOTAL RECYCLING IMPACT (GLASS + CARDBOARD)

Total material recycled 7,883 lbs (≈ 3.94 tons)

Total energy saved≈ 2,593 kWhCO

Emissions avoided≈ 2,365 lbs (≈ 1.07 metric tons)

Equivalent impact- Powering a U.S. home ~2½ months
- Driving emissions of ~2,600 miles prevented
- Nearly 4 tons of material kept out of Texas landfills

Our mission: collect/recycle glass, cardboard and cork from area wineries.

About Us

Glass Cardboard and cork from area wineries, distilleries and breweries end up in our landfill.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Please Help Our Cause

Frequently Asked Questions

🌍 YTD TOTAL RECYCLING IMPACT (GLASS + CARDBOARD)

Contact Us

Our founding members:

Empty Harvest

Drop us a line!

Our mission: collect/recycle glass, cardboard and cork from area wineries.

About Us

Glass Cardboard and cork from area wineries, distilleries and breweries end up in our landfill.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Our mission is to collect and divert this waste stream and to eventually expand this service to the local community.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Delivering collected cardboard to the existing city facility for processing and collecting cork to reroute to processors is a key to success and by properly pulverizing the glass the resultant sand can be reused in various be be construction-related applications.

Please Help Our Cause

Frequently Asked Questions

🌍 YTD TOTAL RECYCLING IMPACT (GLASS + CARDBOARD)

Contact Us

Our founding members:

Empty Harvest

Drop us a line!

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