No one really pays much attention to what happens to replacement windows when they age. Homeowners tend to go through the motions and just replace the windows without a thought in the world as to where the old glass goes.
(prHWY.com) October 17, 2012 - Seattle, WA -- No one really pays much attention to what happens to replacement windows when they age. Homeowners tend to go through the motions and just replace the windows without a thought in the world as to where the old glass goes.
The glass will usually go to a recycling plant and be used for other replacement windows. That was until the Cups for Windows Company came into existence.
"Replacement windows used to be used for recycled material", explained Paige Swanson, spokesperson for Cups for Windows Company. "While it is great to recycle, we did come up with a relatively cool and unusual purpose for the glass - use the glass to make drinking cups."
There usually isn't a concern where the glass in the windows goes, but when the city of Los Angeles faced an overwhelming amount of glass being recycled, someone had to take action. That was when Barry Collins came up with the idea of making drinking mugs out of the recycled glass.
"We thought if we used the glass for another purpose other than recycling it, it would cut back on how much the city recycling plant had to recycle", said Paige Swanson. "We weren't sure it would help, but we thought we'd give it a try."
Cups for Windows Company takes the old, cracked glass and melds it together to create a beautiful drinking mug. The glass can be colored to give off a bright, vibrant appearance or decorated with hand painted designed for a
unique and customized look. All the glass used comes from replacement windows and goes to the company's glass melding plant.
"We launched this company in an effort to help the city", explained Swanson. "We really have made an impact. The latest numbers say that we have saved the city over $40,000 in recycling bills and reduced the amount of glass they have to recycle by 30%."
Reducing the amount of glass that needs to be recycled isn't the only thing the company does. It also helps the community. Anything that is earned goes to help various community organizations throughout the state.
"We want to help the community", explains Swanson. "We aren't out to make millions of dollars. Anything we do earn from people who buy the mugs goes back into the community. We finance children's sports teams, help build playground and even hold a variety of community events that help build a sense of community. That is what we set out to do and it's working."
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