Reusing scrap materials for countertops, pavers, sculptures and other items can be an option for homeowners who are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style.
These three Georgia companies rescue materials to sell or to create new items for the home.
Even in new home construction, the majority of waste can be saved from the landfill, said Chase Beery, operations manager at Greenstone Products. The Winder company turns waste from construction sites in northern and middle Georgia into outdoor firepits, pavers and tiles.
For example, the average granite countertop job produces 200-400 pounds of scrap material. When Greenstone owner Matt Dombrowski sold large machinery to granite and glass manufacturers a few years ago, he saw the need to turn the scraps into recycled building materials. Now the company collects countertop pieces from fabricators each week to create new products.
About 80 percent of the firepits that Greenstone installs for homeowners replace ones that have fallen apart, Beery said. While concrete has the strength of about 2,000-5,000 pounds per square inch, granite reaches about 12,000-15,000 PSI.
“Granite made in the Earth with fire will be much more durable under fire,” he said.
Created from granite countertops, Greenstone’s pavers have a textured, slip-resistant surface that fit a walkway, patio or wall. They come in different colors and sizes are becoming popular in retirement communities as residents redo their sidewalks, Beery said. Greenstone’s pavers are used in popular metro Atlanta mixed-use developments, as well, such as Avalon in Alpharetta.
The center on Murphy Avenue in southwest Atlanta captures building materials, such as lumber and hardwood floors, from deconstruction projects and movie sets and makes them available to people seeking reusable home products.
“The center uses volunteer labor to do the deconstruction projects and has a great showroom where you can buy items,” said Tom Mills, creator of the Green Shortz video series and a volunteer with the center’s community education program.
The Lifecycle Building Center also offers indoor items, such as sinks and French doors, that are discarded from renovation projects. About 25 percent of items that would go into the landfill from these type of projects are reusable, Mills said.
“I’ve found some great vintage things from older homes that were being renovated or torn down,” he said. “I bought a cool science table there.”
Mbare, a contemporary decor company based in Athens, imports metal art from Zimbabwe and Senegal made from natural and recycled materials. Various metal birds — egrets, herons, cranes and owls — were created by the Shona tribe from recycled oil drums in Zimbabwe.
“I wanted to create a sustainable source of income for local artists in my home country,” said owner Robbie Stewart, who grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. “These artistic skills are passed down through the generations and show an incredible amount of talent and knowledge.”
Also created by the Shona tribe, soapstone and serpentine sculptures honor birds and women in particular. With a smooth texture and curving lines carved into green, gray or brown stone, these pieces celebrate nature, family and harmony. Mbare's collection is sold at mbare.com and in West Elm and Pottery Barn stores.
“African stone sculptures are a critical part of modern African art,” Stewart said. “We personally work with these sculptors to find one-of-a-kind pieces.”
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