While in Austin a few weeks ago, we spotted an interesting choice of landscaping material right outside of Aviary: recycled glass. We love the sustainability factor, as well as the look of the mixture of blues and greens with just a bit of amber thrown in. Unfortunately, we didn't ask the owner of Aviary for further information (he was so friendly, we're sure he would have given us the scoop); but, we think it may have been a product called EnviroSCAPE.




It looks beautiful! I definately want to hear from anyone who has used it...or touched it.
view stellato's profile
glass, no experience.
but there are plenty of driveways, patios, and parking lots covered in bits of sea shells and at least one with tumbled broken china in provincetown, mass.
not the most comfortable on bare feet but a nice change from other surfaces, and no harder on the soles then turkey gravel or pebbles, in the right area.
view healthyhome's profile
I don't know if they are still doing it, but the City of Austin was giving away glass mulch from their recycling center earlier this year.
view elizgonz's profile
I've used recycled glass from Bedrock industries in Seattle in a pathway. ( www.bedrockindustries.com )
Pros:
--It's gorgeous. I used the "Rainier Green" - the pale green that you see when you look at glass plate on-edge. They have a bunch of other gorgeous colors but this was the subtlest one.
--Bedrock has really nice people, and their recycled glass tiles are fabulous, too.
Cons:
--It's really expensive. You need a lot to fill even a small path, and a ton doesn't go nearly as far as you think it will.
--It's loud to walk on (though not much worse than regular gravel).
--My cats won't walk on it and I wouldn't walk on it barefoot - it's tumbled but there are still some sharp edges.
--Glass pieces keep migrating into the beds next to the path (again, gravel would do this too, but the glass is more noticeable).
But it's really really pretty.
view morfydd's profile
Whoops - I meant "Rainier Clear", and I'm not seeing it on their website. They have it at their stoneyard, which is just a blast to wander around anyway.
view morfydd's profile
The city used to provide free glass mulch from the recycled glass that they picked up. They are now transitioning to a single-stream recycling system and I don't know if they will continue to offer the free glass. I tried to find some info online to no avail. But, did find this:
http://www.zanthan.com/gardens/gardenlog/?p=2356
If anyone has more info, please share!
view prettybirdpress's profile
Virtually no sharp edges isn't the same as no sharp edges but besides that I don't really like it as a landscape feature. I do like recycled glass in fireplaces though.
view http://badhuman.wordpress.com's profile
It makes me think of an aquarium bottom.
view Trilobyte's profile
I like it. It looks like a million small gemstones. But there have to be some sharp edges. I don't blame your cat for not wanting to walk on it, and I would feel really bad if a little kid cut themselves open.
Plus it must get really hot, and this may affect nearby plants.
view idiotdogbrain's profile
Looks good in the right environment but the twigs, bark mulch, dirt and rocks that will inevitably make their way onto the path will look messier and more incongruous than they would on something like a crushed granite.
view HeritageWoodworks's profile