Recycle your Glass with Bricolage Dynamics
You recycle paper and plastic and aluminum and cardboard, but do you recycle the neatest substance of all… (read to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer).
I learned how glass comes from sand in 2002 when “Sweet Home Alabama” was released. I had to watch the movie multiple times before I picked up on that fact. Must have been more focused on Josh Lucas’ eyes than the lightning rod in his hand. (If you’re lost in this reference, go watch the movie. It’s worth your time). I never thought about the reverse process – sand made from glass.
Enter Zeb Parsons, Greenville entrepreneur and owner of Bricolage Dynamics, a high-quality recycling service for glass.
Parsons is a native of Greenville and graduate of Clemson University. The brainstorm for his business grew out of a paper he wrote while studying for his Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management in Dublin, Ireland. When asked why he started the business “There’s an obvious disaster, why wouldn’t I do this,” Zeb says. He defines Bricolage as “taking the odds and ends together in a creative way that restores value to something.”
Sand is the second most consumed raw material, right behind water. There’s a sand shortage today. Zeb has found a way to replenish this resource. Bricolage Dynamics was opened with a five fold purpose in mind:
- Reduce the amount of glass waste going to landfills
- Provide a reliable recycling service for the Greenville region
- Create new job opportunities for locals
- Limit emissions by turning glass into sand that can be used locally, instead of shipping off to other parts of the country
- Create a sustainable, affordable sand product that benefits businesses and reduces sand mining
My ears naturally perk up when beaches are involved. Coastal erosion is on the rise. Between 75% – 90% of the world’s beaches are receding. There’s a county in Florida looking into glass to replenish their beach. Some electronic devices use glass made from sand – tablets, computers, and that smartphone you have in your hand.
Bricolage Dynamics picks up glass waste from subscriber homes bi-weekly. A bag is furnished to collect household glass. Check out their website here for registration details.
Glass waste is turned into sand using comprehensive crushing and sifting machinery. Then, they sell different quantities and grades of sand. The sand is high quality and readily available. Purchase Order forms can be found on their website here. Zeb and his team will be working out of a two thousand square foot facility in Pickens and have the ability to reach ten thousand homes!
We are so thankful for Bricolage Dynamics and the local impact they are making. Let’s pitch in and do our part!
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