| The problem with Glass: Did you know that the | | | | because I refuse to believe that somebody will |
| bottle of your favorite beverage, well-hope you | | | | make a trip to the recycling yard just to drop off |
| really enjoyed it, will take 1 million years to | | | | their beer bottles. |
| bio-degrade? The other problem with glass is that | | | | Recycled Glass Jewelry: The concept of Recycled |
| it is hard to recycle because it is not very cost | | | | Glass Jewelry is simple. Turn simple inane objects |
| effective. Recycling companies have a tough time | | | | like bottles, jar, containers, windows, cups, plates |
| recycling glass as compared to paper because it | | | | etc. into works of art, to give them a fresh lease |
| comes in so many colors and types that they | | | | of life. There are several artists who are |
| can't just melt them and use it again. With unique | | | | dedicated to this cause and create fabulous |
| chemicals added to every kind of glass, to give it | | | | jewelry that is stunning and fashionable with a |
| color usually, it becomes very hard to segregate | | | | Green edge. All these artists have their own |
| them. | | | | unique approach towards the creation of this |
| Some facts and numbers: The energy saved | | | | jewelry. |
| from recycling one glass bottle can run a | | | | For instance artists have taken their love for sea |
| 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes | | | | glass one step further. They collect |
| 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution | | | | post-consumer glass of different shapes and sizes |
| than when a new bottle is made from raw | | | | and then sand tumble them to give it a sea glass |
| materials. | | | | effect. Thus they give birth to Recycled Sea |
| Mining and transporting raw materials for glass | | | | Glass. Isn't that amazing! |
| produces about 385 pounds of waste for every | | | | Now lets compare that to the wonderful idea of |
| ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is | | | | fusing confetti into glass. This done by adding tiny |
| substituted for half of the raw materials, the | | | | pieces of confetti into molten glass (Recycled, of |
| waste is cut by more than 80%. | | | | course) and then making jewelry from it. |
| Every ton of glass that is recycled results in one | | | | The idea is to make the jewelry as creative, chic |
| ton of raw materials saved to process new glass, | | | | and stylish as any other jewelry and hope that |
| including: 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of | | | | more people will choose this over conventional |
| soda ash and 380 pounds of limestone. | | | | choices and help the Green Cause. |
| The Solution: | | | | The bottom line is that there shouldn't be any |
| Even 4th graders know these days that the | | | | compromise between keeping it Green and |
| formula to a Greener Planet is Reuse, Recycle | | | | keeping one's style. By providing people with a |
| and well-do it all over again. But the key is to | | | | trendy alternate it can be hoped that more and |
| make it as easy and practically do-able as possible | | | | more people can join the Green Cause. |