Vetrazzo Furniture & Recycled Glass

Recycled Glass

Glass recycling is the process of transforming glass waste into reusable material and substances. Due to the fact that glass retains its original color even after being recycled, recyclers categorize the glass into groups according to color, resistance, strength, and hardness. Bottles, broken glass objects, light bulbs, etc. are all common waste products from households around the world. Glass products and materials are thrown in the trash every day and in many areas, never used again. Every metric ton of waste glass recycled into new items saves 315 additional kilograms of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment during the production of new glass.

Process of Recycling Glass

Glass is mostly composed of three main ingredients- silica sand, limestone, and soda ash. When glass is crushed during the recycling process, it returns back to its natural state. While being in this state, the glass is non-toxic and inert meaning it cannot contaminate the environment. Unlike other materials, glass is 100% recyclable making it one of the most recycled material around the world. The crushed recycled glassed, known as cullet, is then mixed with virgin raw materials (soda ash, limestone etc.)

Recycled Glass applied into Modern Businesses

As the green design initiative becomes more and more popular and encouraged, ec0-friendly regulations are implemented into the creation of products in present-day businesses and firms. Vetrazzo Furniture is known for its glass recycled surfaces. 85% of Vetrazzo’s products are manufactured out of recycled glass. Most of the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from used windows, dinnerware, windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, and others. Vetrazzo was awarded a significant grant by California‘s Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, to help expand the Vetrazzo product line as well as aid them in increasing product capacity.

Sources Cited:

http://www.glassworks.org/product_stewardship/how.html

http://www.vetrazzo.com/index.asp