Glass Collection
Don’t make Glass from Scratch, use Recycled Glass
Let’s take a harder look at glass. Better yet, let’s have a look through glass. What do you see? Technically speaking, glass is not a true solid, it’s actually a “super-cooled fluid”. Although this only really matters if you are a university student who is required to know that after many year, an old window will be thicker at the bottom due to the slow flow of glass under the influence of gravity.
Glass is made from silica, soda ash and limestone. Both limestone and silica are products of quarrying whereas soda ash is created by the worldwide chemicals industry. All the ingredients are melted together at very high temperatures to produce the endless varieties of glass we use today. These range from glass fibres used in insulation via plate glass used in windows and car windscreens, to container glass used in bottles and jars.
A huge amount of energy is used in the chain of processes leading to the production of glass items. So recycling glass which can be used to create recycled glass vases must be a good thing, right?
Up to a certain point. The sad fact is that the glass you find in products you buy is actually brand new material. That’s because the manufacturers insist on uniformity, and the only feasible way to achieve that is to make the glass from scratch (no pun intended!)
The absolute best thing you can do with old glass products like bottles and jars is to clean them out and re-use them for the original purpose. Within the UK, this only happen on a major basis with milk bottles which some people get delivered to their door. These are cleaned and reused an average of 12 times. The reason why this form of reuse is so successful is because not only do milk bottles get dropped off, but the old ones are also collected. The reasons why other bottles are never reused (at least in the UK) include the unwillingness of major retailers to handle the returns process, the logistical cost of returning imported bottles (think New Zealand wines), and the nervousness of marketers about the integrity of their brand images.
Most other bottles are ground down to a new raw material called cullet, which can be re-melted back to form more glass. But it isn’t. In fact, the glass that does end up being recycled ends up in aggregate mixtures which are used to make road surfaces. Practially all of the bottles that we do end up recycling and made from brand new glass. Your recycling efforts won’t change that. The reasons why glass is never re-used to make new glass is because firstly, it costs too much to transport due to the uncertain composition and lastly, glass manufacturers have precise requirements for glass.
Recycling plate glass is even worse. A massive amount of glass is used in replacing glass in windows and windscreens. Have you ever wondered what happens to your old window units? Straight to landfill sites. The biggest reason for this is because it simply takes too much time and too much money to remove the glass from the unit.
It is a real challenge to find a shop that sells products created from used glass. The ones that do sell them should be encouraged as they are proving that this really can be done. So here’s a great link to a retailer that stocks a number of recycled glass products, including recycled glass tableware such as plates, bowls and wine glasses, as well as colourful recycled glass bathroom accessories such as soap dispensers.
Nice Glass Collection: Illadelph, RooR, SYN, ZOB.
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Pyrex 6021224 Storage 10-Piece Set, Clear with Blue Lids $14.99 Pyrex bakeware is durable, transparent for easy monitoring of baking progress and provides good heat conduction for even, consistent baking. Pyrex glass is safe in the oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Pyrex glass is nonporous, so it won’t absorb food odors, food flavors, or food stains. Plastic lids are great for storage in refrigerator or freezer. Includes 1 each: 3 cup rec… |
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Cuisinart MCP-12 MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set $289.50 The kitchens of France were the inspiration behind the elegant Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Cookware collection. Cuisinart has included everything you need in this spectacular 12-piece set to perfectly perform all the basic cooking tasks, large or small. From reheating a single portion of soup to preparing appetizers, entre?es and side dishes for the entire family, you?ll find every tool you … |
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Cuisinart 77-10 Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set $118.99 The CUISINART 77-10 Cookware Set includes every piece required for everyday, basic cooking tasks. It’s the perfect set for a couple just setting up house, or for a country or second home. Contents: Cooking Surface Does Not Discolor, React With Food, Or Alter Flavors Unsurpassed Heat Distribution – Aluminum Encapsulated Bases Heat Quickly and Spread Heat Evenly, Eliminating Hot Spots Cool Grip Hand… |
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Blue’s Clues – Blue’s Biggest Stories $6.33 Blue’s Clues “Blue’s Biggest Moments” will be a special compilation of 8 Blue’s Clues episodes. The episodes that appear on this title are a combination of some of the best Blue’s Clues episodes that capture special moments in Blue’s life and in a child’s life. The DVD will include 8 episodes, each approximately 24 minutes in length. Include one epis… |
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Yo Gabba Gabba!: The Dancey Dance Bunch $8.53 A hip Nick Jr. show for toddlers that’s both entertaining and educational, Yo Gabba Gabba features human host DJ Lance Rock and five colorfully costumed characters who dance, sing, and play together while learning about things like friendship, differences, and problem solving. “Friends” finds the Dancey Dance Bunch playing together and discovering the importance of respecting one another and “Danc… |
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Lady Sings the Blues $8.75 Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/08/2005… |
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Cars 2 (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) $24.95 Lightning McQueen (voice by Owen Wilson), Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), Sally (Bonnie Hunt), and the rest of the gang from Radiator Springs return to the screen in this sequel to Pixar’s Cars (2006). But instead of evoking a nostalgic vision of Route 66 through the American Southwest, director John Lasseter and his artists spoof James Bond films in a fast-paced adventure that mixes espionage and ro… |
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The Lion King Trilogy (Eight-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) $63.99 Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the “circle of life” with some new friends… |
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Last Flight of Noah’s Ark [VHS] $2.24 … |
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Rubbermaid 7J93 Produce Saver Square Food Storage Containers Set of 8 $14.44 * Produce saver * Fresh vent and crisp tray keeps produce fresh and crisp longer * Lids and trays snap to bases and each other for easy and organized storage * Microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe * Square design * 8-piece set includes: one 14-cup, one 5-cup, and two 2-cup food-storage containers, with four lids… |