Landfill Treasures: Recycling Glass from Trash to Upscale Interior Surfaces

Recycled glass from landfills can be up-cycled into elegant surface materials to provide that “teachable moment” for your next sustainable project design.
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Sponsored by Polycor Vetrazzo Inc.
Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP

Transparency: Green Suppliers

A reputable supplier should be able to provide specific information about the individual product’s percentages of pre- and post-consumer waste content. They should be able to identify both the source and mix of glass in and individual panel. The recycled glass should be tracked and certified and this information should be available to buyers.

There are several types of certifications for manufacturers as a green business. Certified Benefit Corporations or B Corps are a new classification for green businesses as a legal entity. “Benefit Corporations are unique in that they build upon the legal framework of an organization the opportunity to legally consider the impact decisions will have on the triple bottom line: business, society, and the environment. This differs from current corporate structures, which legally restrict the focus of the company to maximizing shareholder value. Benefit Corporations facilitate this triple-bottom-line mission by aiding organizations in reframing their usual business practices by incorporating commitments to greater accountability, transparency, sustainable business practices, and socially responsible initiatives into the bylaws of the company.”viii Design professionals should ask the companies that provide materials for a green projects for greater transparency and third party certifications of their green business practices.

Whole Foods uses a multi-colored brilliant recycled glass surface for window seating, serving counters and on tables.  Their use of this surface throughout the Potrero Hills, California store as well as in other locations typifies the company’s commitment to preserving natural resources.

Photo courtesy of Polycor Vetrazzo Inc.

 

Conclusion

Sustainable design is a process that includes goals that go beyond the footprint of the building.  Selecting finishes and new materials that mine their raw materials from waste make an environmental commitment. The development of a market for products that use recycled content from locally sourced waste will close the loop of our materials economy.

Providing a high end, up-cycled product from product that are thrown away today will help generate new green jobs for tomorrow. Recycled glass surfaces are a unique product that provides durable and elegant solution for interior surfaces.

Green Buildings, Recycled Glass Surfaces + LEED®

Even in this tight economy, the demand for green buildings continues to grow. According to the Green Outlook 2011, by McGraw-Hill Construction, this growth is projected to double in size by 2015. Green construction starts increased from $42 billion in 2008 to $71 billion in 2010, and it is expected to grow to $135 billion by 2015.ix

In addition LEED® green building initiatives including legislation, executive orders, resolutions, ordinances, policies, and incentives are found in 44 states. Recycled glass surface may help contribute to up to 8 LEED points.

Credits Available with the following rating systems:
LEED-NC 2009 LEED-CS 2009
LEED-CI 2009 LEED-S 2009

MR Credit 2:  Construction Waste Management
Recycling and/or diverting construction and demolition debris; developing and implementing waste management plan
50 percent = 1 point
75 percent = 2 points

MR Credit 4: Recycled Content
Sum of post-consumer recycled content plus ½ pre-consumer content must constitute at least 10 or 20% (based on cost) of total value of project materials
10 percent = 1 point
20 percent = 2 points

LEED-NC 2009 LEED-CS 2009
LEED-S 2009  

MR Credit 5:  Regional Materials
Uses materials or product extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of project
10 percent = 1 point
20 percent = 2 points

LEED-CI

MR Credit 5: Regional Materials
Two options, depending on percentage (10 or 20 percent) of combined value of construction and Division 12 (Furniture) materials and products manufactured regionally with in 500 miles of project
Up to 2 points

LEED-EBOM 2009

MR Credit 3: Sustainable Purchasing-Facility Alterations and Additions
Maintain sustainable purchasing program covering materials and achieve sustainable purchases of 50 percent of total (by cost) during performance period.
• MR Credit 9:  Solid Waste Management
            Waste From Project is recycled/re-used

Credits are highly dependent on exact product, exact project, and exact manufacturer. Complete information should be readily available and the design professional will need to ask for specific data on the amount of recycled content and location of the manufacturing plant.

 

Architect Celeste Allen Novak AIA, LEED AP is a practicing architect, planner and freelance writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan whose work focuses on sustainability.

ENDNOTES

 

Vetrazzo®

Vetrazzo® is the original recycled glass surface and manufactured in the United States using recycling from local suppliers. A gorgeous sustainable building material, it visually tells the story of recycling when incorporated into your design projects. We invite you to discover the endless possibilities of Vetrazzo, and let our story become yours. www.vetrazzo.com

Vetrazzo®…A story in every surface.™   

 

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Originally published in October 2011

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