| Recycling glass is no longer just a trend which | | | | more tightly. |
| provides a consumer niche, it has become a | | | | Post consumer glass has differentials such as |
| "future proof", established and vitally important | | | | color, quality and certain impurities, but it has a |
| business. Recycled glass tile is technically as well as | | | | very rustic appeal. So this is often made up in |
| environmentally sound. When these tiles are well | | | | smaller batches and made unique, however the |
| made the strength and absorption properties are | | | | best glass by-product to use is end cuts or |
| often even better than that required by the | | | | breakage from glass factories to make the cullet. |
| ASTM. | | | | Glass recycling is still something of a contentious |
| Recycling of glass into tile reduces the need for | | | | issue; there are still no procurement guidelines |
| landfills and supports the viability of recycling | | | | from the EPA in the USA to determine what |
| programs. It also helps with reducing the storage | | | | precisely constitutes re-cycle glass. However the |
| space needed for recycled glass, and reduces | | | | fact that it is environmentally responsible to |
| fossil fuel consumption. This is because it takes | | | | recycle a product and turn it into something good |
| less energy to re-form glass than it actually does | | | | has its merits, but it is also difficult to standardize |
| to create tiles from scratch. | | | | batches. |
| In the past recycled tiles were believed to be tile | | | | Presently there is no organization in the US that is |
| that had been removed from walls or floors and | | | | on the side of the manufacturer. However LEED |
| reused. However recycled glass tile is something | | | | is an organization that recognizes and certifies |
| completely different and there is a large | | | | leadership for environmental safety in buildings and |
| consumer market for this product. It has quite | | | | they recognize this product. |
| literally gone from obscurity to becoming a | | | | There has been a great amount of interest |
| commanding product with consumers. As little as | | | | shown in the use of recycled glass tiles in the US, |
| ten years back consumers believed that recycled | | | | and most manufacturers of this product make |
| material was low end and had poor production | | | | use of high percentages of recycled material. |
| value. Fortunately glass tile made from recycled | | | | Obviously to achieve various degrees of light and |
| material does not fit into this category, and as | | | | shade as well as deep color, some new material |
| such are not stereotyped as being a low end | | | | has to be added to the product. |
| product. | | | | Businesses who traditionally deal in ceramics have |
| Two main methods are used for the firing of | | | | started manufacturing recycled glass tile in various |
| glass tiles, the "cast" and "smalti" methods. In | | | | shapes, colors and sizes. The size varies form as |
| manufacturing tile by the smalti method, pieces of | | | | small as 1" square in glass mosaic tile, to as large |
| glass are melted down into a liquid or molten | | | | as approximately 4" square, for wall and floor |
| state, color is added and the glass is rolled, cooled | | | | coverings. Other shapes are also available, so if |
| and then cut into the required size. With the cast | | | | you are thinking about re-modeling your kitchen or |
| method pieces of glass (cullet) are placed in a | | | | bathroom, why not take a look at this |
| mould with the color and then melted. The glass | | | | environmentally friendly and very attractive |
| then takes on the shape of the mould and | | | | product? |
| sometimes pressure is applied to bind the material | | | | |