Recycled Glass
Posted in Arts and Crafts on 07/16/2009 01:44 pm by adminRecycled Glass
So, we’re told that we should do more for the environment. That we should source locally produced food. They tell us that we should recycle more. So we diligently do these things, thinking that we’re doing our bit to preserve mother earth. But while we’re feeling virtuous depositing the odd bottle in the recycling bin, there are those who have taken it a whole lot further – some have literally parted waves to make a difference.
To celebrate in the greening of the world, and our contribution to it, our exquisite recycled doormat, we have put together a top 10 list of amazing reuses of the humble green (and clear) bottles.
1. Raise a glass in honour of Grolsch with Nigel’s Eco Store
Next time you’re having a beer, serve it up in the green bottle Grolsh goblets. Taking recycling to a whole new level, the glass bottles have had their base carefully cut away, sharp edges polished and the base bonded to the upside down bottle, creating the perfect eco-friendly goblet. A great talking point at any party!
2. Temple of a million bottles
It’s not all about meditation. Buddhist monks at the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple in Thailand have taken recycling one step further by building a whole temple. Nickname “Temple of a Million Bottles” this magnificent structure was built using more than a million discarded recycled glass bottles from their area. And they built everything from the crematorium to the toilet, including some funky floor mosaics made from the bottle tops.
3. Eco Mat from Doormats Delivered
When you’re looking for a door mat, the environment might not figure highly – what you want is a dirt trapper mat, or a doormat that will make your hallway look pretty. But doormats can be environmentally friendly too. The Eco doormat is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and tyres. The Eco mat provides a complete solution for the house that wants to be eco conscious when buying door mats.
4. Bottle ahoy
Moses may have parted the Dead Sea, but Evian is parting the whole ocean. Well, not every one of the 12,500 bottles will be the branded variety, but they’ve helped The Plastiki get well on its way to setting sail. Not just any boat, this one comes with custom-made solar panels and wind turbines and bikes that power the batteries. And all this from a few plastic bottles.
5. Diamonds were a girls best friend
Why waste your cash on diamonds when some precisely cut glass will be just as good. Whether it’s earrings, beads and pendants you’re sure to find something created from recycled glass that will please you or a loved one.
6. Samsung Eco cover up
Samsung have gone Eco-tastic with the launch of the Blue Earth Handset. The touch screen eco-phone is made from recycled water bottles and is free from nasty chemicals usually used to fireproof products. It also sports a built in solar panel to take advantage of what Samsung helpfully points out, is one of the most eco-friendly energy sources.
7. Chandelier sparkle
Recycling may have been the ugly duckling once upon a time. But these days they sparkle and shine like a real life fairytale. Michelle Brand has created a range of beautiful eco-friendly designs. Using the petal shapes taken from the base of plastic water bottles; what you get is a cascading delight.
8. A winter wonderland of green
Next Christmas how about creating a new party game. Drink the beer and build the tree. Guests gather around and contribute to the creation of your own Green bottle Christmas tree. OK, it’s a silly idea, you might topple over and make a mess… but wouldn’t it be fun trying to build it? In the mean time check out the experts who have already done it.
9. A route paved with… glass
The road to London may be paved with gold, but generally everything else comes in a shade of boring Tarmac…. unless you’re visiting the Morton Arboretum in the USA. To add a bit of colour to their paths they’ve opted for recycled glass. Naturally, the glass has been rounded off to make it completely safe and it looks a lot prettier than Tarmac.
10. Calling time ladies and gentlemen
In time honoured calls, this is the last bottle ladies and gents. Artistic licence applied to a humble old bottle can create a thing of beauty, and one that will ensure you’re on time. All of these Bottle clocks are handcrafted in the UK using genuine recycled bottles and labels.
Question for Dr. Glass: how are monitors recycled in France/Germany?
My email is briao83@yahoo.com, I am working on a project to investigate the possibility of recycling glass from plasma/Lcd screens. So far you have helped me the most, so if we could get in contact that would be super!!
Thanx
I guess you know you’ve made it when people ask for you by name!
I’d be happy to help you with your project starting with a little background here and then an email to open more direct contact.
Recycling glass in LCD/plasma monitors is actually now a driving force in the production of those glasses. About 5 years ago all “display” glass was made with two very environmentally un-friendly compounds. First, a caustic fining agent like Arsenic or Antimony was added to reduce bubble defects in the finished sheets. These agents are poisonous and while most comes out of the glass during melting, a small portion remains in the glass and makes it dangerous to recycle (and obviously to melt). Second, a heavy metal oxide like Cesium, Barium, or Lead was added to increase some important mechanical properties like compaction, Young’s Modulus and other properties related to making a strong thin glass. These heavy metals added to the difficulty in recycling especially in countries with strict environmental policies (namely Europe).
Recently glass companies like Corning have made significant progress in eliminating both caustic fining agents and heavy metal oxides. Corning’s EAGLE XG is now the industries leading “display” glass for LCD TV’s and monitors and is melted in the USA, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. This glass is easy to recycle and much safer for the environment.
So all that being said, I haven’t really answered your question about recycling in France/Germany. To be honest, very little display glass is recycled not just in Europe but around the world. We’ll have to talk about the specifics through email but I suspect trying to start recycling these glasses will be a difficult endevour considering plasma monitors still use caustic fining agents and heavy metal oxides. Look for an email from me soon and we can discuss this in more detail.
Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Surfaces – buildaroo.com
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San Miguel Recycled Glass Bottle Decanter $14.99 |
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15″ Recycled Beach/Sea Glass Tube Beads-DARK GRAY $7.99 |
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15″ Recycled Beach Glass XL Rectangle Beads-DARK GRAY $7.99 |
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1/2 lb Recycled Glass Bead Set-ROUND & RONDELLE MIX $9.99 |
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15″ Recycled Glass Rondelle Beads-LIGHT GRAY 8x10mm $7.99 |
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15″ Recycled Glass Rondelle Beads-LIGHT BLUE 8x10mm $7.99 |
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1/2 lb Recycled Glass Bead Set-RECTANGLE & TUBE MIX $9.99 |
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15″ Recycled Glass Rondelle Beads-LIGHT BLUE 8x12mm $7.99 |
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Dark Amber Brown Corked Apothecary Spice Recycled Glass Bottle 100ml / 3.4oz $4.95 |
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10X 33x13mm PACIFIC BLUE sea beach glass pendant beads recycled matte spindle $12.00 |
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sea beach glass aqua blue teardrop earrings copper wire frosted recycled glass $7.99 |
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aqua blue 35mm earring size sea beach glass pendant beads frosted recycled opaq $3.50 |
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8″ peacock teal round 10mm sea velvet beach glass beads frosted recycled matte $4.60 |
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8″ tangerine red round 10mm sea velvet beach glass beads frosted recycled matte $4.40 |
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8″ royal blue round 10mm sea velvet beach glass beads frosted recycled matte $4.40 |
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Govino Plastic Wine Glass Flexible Recyclable Shatterproof (Set of 4) $12.95 govino really means go anywhere you like. This revolutionary vessel designed for the ultimate enjoyment of fine wine actually works well for any cold beverage. The unique ergonomic thumb-notch makes wine swirling most simple and best of all you can reuse them or even recycle them. Each box comes with a set of four crystal-clear shatterproof “glasses” perfect for indoors or outâat a picnic, an… |
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Govino Shatterproof Stemless Wine Glasses – 8 Pack $25.90 govino really means go anywhere you like. This revolutionary vessel designed for the ultimate enjoyment of fine wine actually works well for any cold beverage. The unique ergonomic thumb-notch makes wine swirling most simple and best of all you can reuse them or even recycle them. Each box comes with a set of four crystal-clear shatterproof “glasses” perfect for indoors or out – at a picnic, an ou… |
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Zak Designs Confetti Assorted Brights Mixing Bowls, Set of 4 $25.99 Zak Designs has always maintained a strong commitment to the Earth and the environment. That commitment has been elevated to a new level with the introduction of Confetti. Zak’s confetti line is from recycled durable 100% melamine, being environmentally friendly never looked so fun… |
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Philip Glass: Heroes Symphony (From the Music of David Bowie & Brian Eno) $12.99 … |
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The Glass Room $12.44 Legends & Deeds’ eagerly anticipated debut album, The Glass Room, recorded and mixed at CCRMA studios and mastered at Annex Digital, was released in August 2001. With each member boasting an impressive background in sound engineering, the band was able to record and mix the album themselves, maintaining complete creative control over the production that gave way to a sound from the heart, far rich… |
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Hero Worship $15.66 … |
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Walls of Light the History of Stained Glass $28.99 Documentary History of Stained Glass… |
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Charles Glass Weight Training Intermediate [VHS] $29.95 Featuring Master Instructor Charles Glass APPROX 48 minutes Full Color. In this video the intermediate student of weight training is shown several new methods of training along with a complete break down of a training schedule for those wantinmg to get the most out of the program. Master Instructor Charles Glass a former body building champion and now the coach of some of the worlds very best li… |
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Paper Straws Pack of 144 Yellow $9.97 Retro Pixie stripe straws. Comes in a box of 144. FDA Approved Soy Ink. Vivid saturated color. Biodegrades after event. Perfect for that signiture drink at parties, weddings, birthdays. Kids love straws as well as adults. No more plastic…… |
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Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss Polish & Shine Hair Styling Serums Buy Kenra Styling Products – Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss Polish & Shine 2.26 oz. How-to-Use: Smooth over damp or dry hair and skin. Apply heat for optimum shine and condition…. |