Recycled Rubbish Finds its Way Home
Improve your home's eco cred by building and decorating with products made from recycled materials
Gabrielle Chariton
5 January 2019
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance writer and editor. I write about anything and everything but I specialise in housing design, kitchens, bathrooms and sustainable living. I pass the time by painting old furniture white, photographing animals, haunting op-shops and dreaming up renovation projects. See more of my work at www.gabriellechariton.com
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance writer and editor. I write about anything... More
When you drop your paper, plastic and glass waste into the recycling, do you ever wonder where it will end up? Did you imagine that your soft drink bottle could be turned into carpet, or that today’s newspaper will become tomorrow’s insulation? It’s easier than ever to build an earth-friendly home, as eco-aware manufacturers find ways to transform household and industrial waste into smart, environmentally friendly products, without compromising on looks or performance.
According to the latest Australian National Waste Report, Australia produces about 64 million tonnes of waste annually (equivalent to 2.7 tonnes of waste per capita) and about 60 per cent of this gets recycled.
When we choose products made from recycled materials, we’re helping to reduce pressure on the planet’s finite resources and alleviate landfill. And products made with recycled content are often less energy-intensive to manufacture, which equals fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s take a closer look at some great examples of home products made with recycled content.
When we choose products made from recycled materials, we’re helping to reduce pressure on the planet’s finite resources and alleviate landfill. And products made with recycled content are often less energy-intensive to manufacture, which equals fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s take a closer look at some great examples of home products made with recycled content.
Eco-conscious carpet
In the old days, buying carpet meant choosing between wool or nylon. Not any more. Manufacturers can now create hardwearing, beautiful carpeting using recycled soft drink bottles.
Already well-established as a mainstream product offering in America, polyester carpeting made from PET bottles is slowly gaining market share here in Australia. Look out for Choices Flooring’s Serenity Halo (pictured here) and Divine, or the Soft.e range from FlooringXtra.
An unbelievable 480 billion plastic drinking bottles are sold across the world each year. Fewer than half of these find their way into recycling programs – the rest becoming landfill or litter. Water and soft-drink bottles are made from a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which is highly recyclable and can be transformed into a range of new items including textiles such as polar fleece and carpeting.
While there is conflicting evidence regarding the durability of PET carpeting (like anything, quality will vary between manufacturers), it is soft and luxurious underfoot and, because it doesn’t absorb moisture, it’s highly stain-resistant. It also helps to keep those PET bottles out of our landfill and waterways.
In the old days, buying carpet meant choosing between wool or nylon. Not any more. Manufacturers can now create hardwearing, beautiful carpeting using recycled soft drink bottles.
Already well-established as a mainstream product offering in America, polyester carpeting made from PET bottles is slowly gaining market share here in Australia. Look out for Choices Flooring’s Serenity Halo (pictured here) and Divine, or the Soft.e range from FlooringXtra.
An unbelievable 480 billion plastic drinking bottles are sold across the world each year. Fewer than half of these find their way into recycling programs – the rest becoming landfill or litter. Water and soft-drink bottles are made from a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which is highly recyclable and can be transformed into a range of new items including textiles such as polar fleece and carpeting.
While there is conflicting evidence regarding the durability of PET carpeting (like anything, quality will vary between manufacturers), it is soft and luxurious underfoot and, because it doesn’t absorb moisture, it’s highly stain-resistant. It also helps to keep those PET bottles out of our landfill and waterways.
Green decks
And what about all those empty milk bottles? Many Australian-made wood-plastic composite decking boards are made from a mixture of recycled timber waste and recycled HDPE plastic, which is sourced from old milk bottles. The resulting product is a low-maintenance alternative to hardwood for exterior decking. It looks like wood and feels like wood underfoot, but doesn’t require any ongoing upkeep to maintain its appearance.
One of the most well-known manufacturers of composite decking, ModWood, says each lineal metre of its decking board contains approximately 37 recycled plastic milk bottles, and around two kilograms of reclaimed pine dust.
And what about all those empty milk bottles? Many Australian-made wood-plastic composite decking boards are made from a mixture of recycled timber waste and recycled HDPE plastic, which is sourced from old milk bottles. The resulting product is a low-maintenance alternative to hardwood for exterior decking. It looks like wood and feels like wood underfoot, but doesn’t require any ongoing upkeep to maintain its appearance.
One of the most well-known manufacturers of composite decking, ModWood, says each lineal metre of its decking board contains approximately 37 recycled plastic milk bottles, and around two kilograms of reclaimed pine dust.
Did you know?
Before dropping plastic bottles in the recycling, make sure they’re empty, remove the cap, and squash them. This is because bottle caps are too small to be processed. Also, if the lid is left on an un-rinsed milk bottle, gas builds up and there’s a risk it will explode.
Tip: Bottles and packaging made from PET plastic are marked with the number 1. Bottles and packaging made from HDPE plastic are marked with the number 2.
Clever Cover-Ups for Rubbish and Recycling
Before dropping plastic bottles in the recycling, make sure they’re empty, remove the cap, and squash them. This is because bottle caps are too small to be processed. Also, if the lid is left on an un-rinsed milk bottle, gas builds up and there’s a risk it will explode.
Tip: Bottles and packaging made from PET plastic are marked with the number 1. Bottles and packaging made from HDPE plastic are marked with the number 2.
Clever Cover-Ups for Rubbish and Recycling
Intelligent insulation
A necessary inclusion in all housing, insulation has great eco-credentials: it reduces our reliance on heaters and air conditioning, making our homes more energy-efficient. When choosing insulation, add extra sustainability points by choosing batts made from recycled content. Glasswool (or fibreglass) insulation is made (astonishingly!) from a molten mixture of recycled glass and sand. The glass used in the manufacture of insulation is derived from both post-consumer waste sources (i.e. the bottles and jars we put into the recycling bin), as well as from construction and demolition waste and scrap car-windscreen glass. According to a Commonwealth Government report, the manufacture of glasswool in Australia uses 50,000 tonnes of recycled glass per year.
Polyester insulation batts are made from recycled PET bottles. Compositions vary between manufacturers, but batts will generally contain between 45 and 80 per cent recycled content. While typically more expensive than glasswool, polyester is soft and fluffy, non-toxic and can be handled without gloves during installation.
A necessary inclusion in all housing, insulation has great eco-credentials: it reduces our reliance on heaters and air conditioning, making our homes more energy-efficient. When choosing insulation, add extra sustainability points by choosing batts made from recycled content. Glasswool (or fibreglass) insulation is made (astonishingly!) from a molten mixture of recycled glass and sand. The glass used in the manufacture of insulation is derived from both post-consumer waste sources (i.e. the bottles and jars we put into the recycling bin), as well as from construction and demolition waste and scrap car-windscreen glass. According to a Commonwealth Government report, the manufacture of glasswool in Australia uses 50,000 tonnes of recycled glass per year.
Polyester insulation batts are made from recycled PET bottles. Compositions vary between manufacturers, but batts will generally contain between 45 and 80 per cent recycled content. While typically more expensive than glasswool, polyester is soft and fluffy, non-toxic and can be handled without gloves during installation.
Cellulose insulation is made almost entirely from recycled paper – mostly newspaper – and flame-retardant chemicals (usually boric acid). It is not installed as batts but is blown into the roof cavity, making it a good option for small roof spaces where batts are difficult to install. Manufacturers of loose-fill cellulose insulation say it contains the highest recycled content of all insulation products, making it the greenest choice for ceiling insulation.
Better bricks
We love bricks: they’re durable, maintenance-free, and affordable. Their high thermal mass helps to regulate internal temperatures, delivering more energy-efficient homes.
Bricks are traditionally made from a mixture of clay and shale, sourced from quarries around Australia and overseas. Their earthy, textured aesthetic is increasingly sought after by designers and demand is at an all-time high; in fact, one of Australia’s largest brick manufacturers currently has 200 million bricks on order.
With these sorts of numbers in play, it makes sense to up the eco-quotient by choosing bricks made with recycled content. Boral FireLight bricks contain 75 per cent waste product (ash from power generation) and 5 per cent recycled concrete. Tasmanian manufacturer Island Block & Paving have several lines of bricks and pavers made with recycled glass aggregate. Both these products offer the same performance, strength and durability as traditional clay bricks, but with a less energy-intensive manufacturing process, and reduced draw on the earth’s resources.
Find a professional to help with your eco-friendly build
We love bricks: they’re durable, maintenance-free, and affordable. Their high thermal mass helps to regulate internal temperatures, delivering more energy-efficient homes.
Bricks are traditionally made from a mixture of clay and shale, sourced from quarries around Australia and overseas. Their earthy, textured aesthetic is increasingly sought after by designers and demand is at an all-time high; in fact, one of Australia’s largest brick manufacturers currently has 200 million bricks on order.
With these sorts of numbers in play, it makes sense to up the eco-quotient by choosing bricks made with recycled content. Boral FireLight bricks contain 75 per cent waste product (ash from power generation) and 5 per cent recycled concrete. Tasmanian manufacturer Island Block & Paving have several lines of bricks and pavers made with recycled glass aggregate. Both these products offer the same performance, strength and durability as traditional clay bricks, but with a less energy-intensive manufacturing process, and reduced draw on the earth’s resources.
Find a professional to help with your eco-friendly build
This home is built from Timbercrete, an Australian-made, cellulose-based brick comprising 50 per cent sawdust, mixed with cement, sand and binders. These bricks are not kiln-fired, saving energy associated with production. Timbercrete bricks come in a range of sizes and weigh half as much as regular bricks, making them easier and faster with which to build. Because of their unique composition, these bricks need to be installed with the correct mortar mix – so consult with your sales representative about this at time of purchase.
Recycled roofing
What do you see on the roof of this house? It looks like slate but it’s actually a synthetic product. These EcoStar Majestic tiles are comprised of 80 per cent recycled rubber, sourced from old tyres. As well as diverting rubber from landfill, these tiles are lightweight, incredibly durable, and easier to install than traditional slate products.
If you love the look, check out Australian company Authentic Roof, which distributes similar slate-lookalike roofing tiles manufactured by Canadian company Crowes Building Products. Authentic Roof tiles are made from car waste products, such as bumper bars, tyres and trim. The company says the tiles are safe to use with rainwater tanks, and because they’re made using eight different moulds, they give a good visual impression of natural, quarried slate.
What do you see on the roof of this house? It looks like slate but it’s actually a synthetic product. These EcoStar Majestic tiles are comprised of 80 per cent recycled rubber, sourced from old tyres. As well as diverting rubber from landfill, these tiles are lightweight, incredibly durable, and easier to install than traditional slate products.
If you love the look, check out Australian company Authentic Roof, which distributes similar slate-lookalike roofing tiles manufactured by Canadian company Crowes Building Products. Authentic Roof tiles are made from car waste products, such as bumper bars, tyres and trim. The company says the tiles are safe to use with rainwater tanks, and because they’re made using eight different moulds, they give a good visual impression of natural, quarried slate.
Did you know?
Rubber waste is a significant environmental issue in Australia, with around 50 million end-of-life car tyres thrown out each year. According to the Australian Department of the Environment, just 16 per cent of these are recycled, 18 per cent exported, and the remainder ends up in landfill, or are stockpiled or dumped. Worldwide, the figures are even more startling: the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says one billion end-of-life tyres are generated globally each year, with four billion currently in landfills and stockpiles.
Rubber waste is a significant environmental issue in Australia, with around 50 million end-of-life car tyres thrown out each year. According to the Australian Department of the Environment, just 16 per cent of these are recycled, 18 per cent exported, and the remainder ends up in landfill, or are stockpiled or dumped. Worldwide, the figures are even more startling: the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says one billion end-of-life tyres are generated globally each year, with four billion currently in landfills and stockpiles.
Paper perfection
There’s more to this striking, streamlined Perth kitchen than meets the eye. It was designed by eco-kitchen specialist Philippe Signer, and features benchtops and cabinet fronts made from Paperock. A sustainable and healthier alternative to MDF, Paperock is an all-Australian building material made from layers of paper (recycled or from renewable sources) and bonded with phenolic resin and heat/pressure cured. As strong as it is lovely, Paperock is also water-resistant, making it suitable for use in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, as well as for shelving and furniture.
Did you know?
Australians send 1.9 million tonnes of paper to landfill each year, and most of it can be recycled.
There’s more to this striking, streamlined Perth kitchen than meets the eye. It was designed by eco-kitchen specialist Philippe Signer, and features benchtops and cabinet fronts made from Paperock. A sustainable and healthier alternative to MDF, Paperock is an all-Australian building material made from layers of paper (recycled or from renewable sources) and bonded with phenolic resin and heat/pressure cured. As strong as it is lovely, Paperock is also water-resistant, making it suitable for use in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, as well as for shelving and furniture.
Did you know?
Australians send 1.9 million tonnes of paper to landfill each year, and most of it can be recycled.
Doors to the future
Love it or hate it, Ikea is undeniably a powerful market force, setting trends and changing the way we shop for homewares, which is why it’s so great to see them bringing sustainable choices to the masses. These Ikea Kungsbacka kitchen components are made from reclaimed industrial wood, wrapped in a smooth, charcoal outer made entirely from recycled PET bottles. Ikea has also released a new moulded chair, the Odger, which is made from recycled plastic and renewable wood.
Houzz Pick: The Best Products in the 2018 Ikea Catalogue
Love it or hate it, Ikea is undeniably a powerful market force, setting trends and changing the way we shop for homewares, which is why it’s so great to see them bringing sustainable choices to the masses. These Ikea Kungsbacka kitchen components are made from reclaimed industrial wood, wrapped in a smooth, charcoal outer made entirely from recycled PET bottles. Ikea has also released a new moulded chair, the Odger, which is made from recycled plastic and renewable wood.
Houzz Pick: The Best Products in the 2018 Ikea Catalogue
A new benchmark
Ultra-compact surfacing, also known as large-format surfacing, is creating a bit of a revolution in kitchen and bathroom design. Just millimetres thick yet incredibly hard, impervious to moisture damage and staining, scratch and heat resistant, it’s becoming the go-to product for benchtop surfaces in contemporary kitchens. While the material composition of these products varies between brands, their hardness and resilience is created by intense-heat firing combined with extreme compression.
One example of ultra-compact surfacing, Dekton by Cosentino, is made from porcelain, quartz and glass. The company is pioneering a new phase with the release of its ‘Trilium’ colour, pictured here, which is made from 100 per cent recycled materials. This industrial-inspired finish, which mimics the look of oxidised stainless steel, delivers a high visual impact along with low environmental impact.
Ultra-compact surfacing, also known as large-format surfacing, is creating a bit of a revolution in kitchen and bathroom design. Just millimetres thick yet incredibly hard, impervious to moisture damage and staining, scratch and heat resistant, it’s becoming the go-to product for benchtop surfaces in contemporary kitchens. While the material composition of these products varies between brands, their hardness and resilience is created by intense-heat firing combined with extreme compression.
One example of ultra-compact surfacing, Dekton by Cosentino, is made from porcelain, quartz and glass. The company is pioneering a new phase with the release of its ‘Trilium’ colour, pictured here, which is made from 100 per cent recycled materials. This industrial-inspired finish, which mimics the look of oxidised stainless steel, delivers a high visual impact along with low environmental impact.
For a more traditional look, make a sustainable statement with terrazzo-inspired engineered stone made with recycled glass, such as this vanity by Granite Transformations. Its Trend range of recycled glass surfaces comprises up to 72 per cent post-consumer recycled material, including tempered glass chips, quartz and stone fragments, all bound together with polyester resin.
Did you know?
When you put empty glass bottles and jars out for recycling, you should remove the lids, but it’s not necessary to wash them. Other household glass waste, such as window glass, drinkware, and Pyrex, aren’t suitable for kerbside recycling as they have a higher melting point. Wrap these in newspaper and place in the rubbish bin.
Tell us
Do you love the idea of using recycled products when building or renovating? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story.
More
Learn more about eco-friendly living
Did you know?
When you put empty glass bottles and jars out for recycling, you should remove the lids, but it’s not necessary to wash them. Other household glass waste, such as window glass, drinkware, and Pyrex, aren’t suitable for kerbside recycling as they have a higher melting point. Wrap these in newspaper and place in the rubbish bin.
Tell us
Do you love the idea of using recycled products when building or renovating? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story.
More
Learn more about eco-friendly living
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I would hope that manufacturers don't charge a premium on these products in a bid to exploit those who are trying to lessen their environmental impact.
I would use almost all of these products if they were affordable.... gorgeous too!
I am curious about the rubber slate roof tiles... how energy efficient are they? I imagine the rubber content would heat up a lot.
It is always good to see materials being reused, especially plastics, but my question is, what is the long term impact of said materials once life of recycled product is over? can it be recycled again or will it be landfill time after that? It's time to go back to grass roots materials (literally!).