Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating and Design

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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 aluminum countertops is dark and smooth.

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Courtesy of Eleek

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Recycled Aluminum

What it is:Eleek uses 50% to 90% recycled aluminum to make countertop-depth pieces up to 3 feet wide with built-in front lip and backsplash, and to make tiles. Renewed Materials makes Alkemi, a solid-surface material containing postindustrial scrap aluminum in polymeric resin.

What makes it green: Eleek's products, which also include sinks, light fixtures, and hardware, are all made with recycled metals that can then be recycled at the end of their useful life. Metal products are finished with reusable abrasives and recirculated water. Clear-coat finish is food-safe and nontoxic.

Cost: High cost makes it comparable to upper-end granite. Pictured from $95 per square foot.

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