Ultimate Kitchen Guide

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5 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Counters

There are more options for countertops than just marble and granite. Check out our favorites, plus find out what makes them green and how much they cost.

The recycled glass on this countertop is blue-green.

» From Sunset

Rob D. Brodman

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How to Live in the West

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Recycled Glass

What it is: Colorful recycled glass mixed into a cement, concrete, or resin base. Counters can be integrally colored or stained for more variation and color coordination with cabinetry or painted surfaces.

What makes it green: Diverts used glass from the waste stream. The cement in some counters is mixed with fly ash, a waste product that would otherwise end up in landfills; this also reduces greenhouse gas–producing cement manufacturing.

Cost: On the pricey side. Starting around $50 per square foot.

Note: As with all counter materials, labor and installation can cost extra and vary by region.

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