Choose recycled glass for counters, backsplashes, accessories and more — this material is as durable as it is ecofriendly.
The good news is that glass is recyclable — not just once, but on and on, without any degradation of the material. Consider some of these ideas for bringing the sparkle of recycled glass into your house.
Plus, the more cullett (crushed glass) used to make recycled glass, the lower the temperature the furnace needs to reach — and that prolongs the life of the furnace.
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Uses: Recycled glass countertops have made it easier to incorporate recycled glass in the home. They come as 100 percent recycled glass or as recycled glass blended with concrete or resin.
Recycled glass backsplashes, tiles, tableware, accessories and even chips (shown here in a landscape) can all be used to make your home and garden beautiful. |
by Lindy Donnelly »
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Recycled glass is also durable. Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled infinitely without its losing strength, purity or quality; recycled glass products are as durable as the original glass.
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Considerations: Glass chip-based products rely on concrete or a resin-binding material. The recycled content of these blended work surfaces ranges from 70 to 85 percent.
Environmentally, it takes a lot of energy to extract the raw materials and produce the cement. Resin, in most cases, is a petrochemical product derived from a nonrenewable resource (unless it's formulated from plant-based sources). For concrete mixes, look for recycled concrete. However, transportation costs for this heavy material can be high, both environmentally and financially. |
by Shannon Malone »
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Upcycling: In the United Kingdom we import more green and brown glass than we can recycle, so we ship green crushed glass back to Portugal for recycling. Since colored glass has to be separated from clear glass in the recycling process, consider upcycling those wine bottles intact — as in this innovative light fixture.
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By: Julia Pockett
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