"IF you are laying awake in bed at night worrying about the environment, and wanting a "green" product - these kinds of products are for you. If - on the other hand - you want an affordable and easier to clean countertop material for your kitchen... there's other products that will work - and probably better... Bottom line is this - if you HAVE the green, I'll help you install something GREEN if you want it, but be prepared to buy "green" with LOT$ of "GREEN" (hundies.... LOTS OF HUNDIES that is!!!!!)" How about some of us just like the material for its unique characteristics?! I did have a goal to choose greener products where I could and we installed solar - but I don't lay awake nights and I don't have money to burn - plenty of other counters are as expensive or moreso than the recycled glass. These kinds of responses drive me nuts. There are positives and negatives for all materials - it is important that each individual know what those are for their particular choice and be prepared to live with them. Just because a product is "green" or in the premium cost category doesn't mean those are the main points of purchase decision. I suspect most people considering this material like the unique look. I have loved it since I first saw it used in a Sunset Idea Home. At the time the reaction was purely aesthetic.

It's been a few years, but I seem to recall an example of a recycled glass counter material of some type at a big box store in our area. You might want to just call the biggies and ask. We seriously considered Enviroglas but went with stone.

A member(gldnfan) recently posted this about Ice Stone" "DD and janie k - both of your kitchens are gorgeous. To the poster who said essentially that a mix of luxury and budget keeps the luxury from showing - what a load of BS - the amazing backsplash pops beautifully from DD's kitchen and janie's light fixtures and cabinets are TDF. And its already been said but the assertion that luxury and laminate in the same sentence is a no - please, that is simply a narrow minded assertion based on bias. I spent a fortune on ice stone for my island - I once considered laminate because I thought it would go well with my nu-crete perimeter counters and I was having trouble deciding - oh how I wish I made that choice! Everyone loves the ice stone - it is quite the show stopper and I was also seduced. However, it is obvious it will not be an easy care surface and the glass easily chips out in places. I have only had it a month and the seam is chipping - it has not had hard use at all! We used the remnant for our wine bar and lemonade spilled during a party - deep etching within an hour. It is not in a very visible area but is very visible if you look at it so now I am frantic about what gets spilled on the island that is in full light - who needs that? I still like to look at it but I would not do it again." I live in Canada and Ice Stone runs $160 a square foot in our area.

We considered them for our new homes. In fact, it was one of the first things I researched. They are really pretty, and we love the green aspect of them. There are several manufacturers, like Vetrazzo Enviroglass, and Icestone. But, since they are cement + recycled glass, they need to be babied quite a bit: resealed every 6 -12 months, standing liquids (coffee, tea, wine, lemon juice, etc.) can seep and stain. That just doesn't work for your family. If you still want the look of recycled glass, but not the high maintenance of cement, look at quartz. Lots of quartz options have recycled glass in it. Much more durable and doesn't need all the resealing. You can find any of the major fabricators anywhere you'd find granite. Despite the marketing, all the brands are made in the same way, so find a color or style you like, and buy the least expensive one. We're going with Hanstone Specchio White (it's fabricated near Toronto, which is closer to us that Cambria in Minnesota). It is white resin with green and silver recycled class. Cambria's Whitney is very similar, but with more silver. Source: dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Picking countertops