TRASH BECOMES TREASURE
Countertops are now being made from both familiar and unexpected waste products.
USED BOTTLES
New products that put secondhand glass to work (without remelting) greatly reduce the pollution caused by the recycling process. Presently, only about 30% of glass bottles are recycled in the U.S.
SECONDHAND PAPER
At least two companies have found a market for products made by laminating together sheets of post-consumer paper to create a stable, water-resistant material.
STONE SCRAPS
Many industries-such as municipal street curb makers-leave behind tons of stone scrap. Now there’s a use for it other than as solid fill or taking up space in landfills.
PORCELAIN TOILETS
Ever wonder what happened to the millions of water guzzling toilets torn out of American homes? Many went to landfills, but a lucky few may now end up resurrected as a bath or kitchen countertop.
MIRROR GLASS
Notoriously hard to recycle because of the reflective coating on the glass, mirror shards create fascinating patterns when sealed inside a translucent countertop resin.
CRUSHED QUARTZ
The second most abundant mineral on Earth, quartz is harder than granite and available locally in many parts of the United States. These traits make it a good choice for manmade countertops, where durability is paramount.
CONCRETE: GREEN OR GRAY?
Are site-built concrete countertops green? That’s a question that has to be answered with “Compared to what?”-at least until life cycle analysis tools become more mature. We know that portland cement-based concrete has a very high embodied energy-because of heat required in its production. And a lot of cement is imported, so it has a big transportation footprint. On the other hand, imported granite leaves its own trail of CO2. Another big factor: What will be used to seal the finished top? Volatile chemical finishes detract from sustainability. But durability also has to be factored in. Products that last longer have a way of justifying their initial CO2 costs. So until we have better analysis tools, the question of concrete’s green creds as a countertop will remain a gray area.
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02.2011
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