Trash into Tile

Used toilets are gross. Clogged up landfills are even more so. So it makes perfect sense to dig through a landfill, pull up some used toilets, and use them to decorate your kitchen.

(Of course, it makes a tiny bit more sense if someone else does the dirty work, and all you have to do is use their tile to get LEEDs credits.)

Paul Burns, of Fireclay Tile, is specializing in turning other people's trash into other people's treasure for a product line called "Debris Series Recycled Tile." He found someone (Recology, a company that specializes in helping people turn waste into useful things) to scour through a landfill for used toilets, tubs, and sinks and then smash all that not-so-fine porcelain into tiny bits. He then takes the porcelain particles, pours them into a mix, and makes decorative tiles.

But the best part of this potty tale is that wasn't even the beginning of the story. It all started with dust, granite quarry dust. You can hear more at more NPR or read more and see pictures at the Fireclay Tile blog.

And this story makes me happy because it's all about scavenging, which is kinda like exploring, except it's exploring with benefits, and by benefits I mean treasure, and everyone likes a treasure hunt, especially one that makes the bathroom or kitchen pretty and helps the environment and gives people jobs -- Win-Win-Win.

Some related reading:

• EveryDay Upcycle: 101 Scrap Crafts and Repurpose Projects 
• Rubbish!: Reuse Your Refuse 
• AlternaCrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make 
• Gus Modern Upcycle Ottoman Upcycle Ottoman 
• Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags 
• Making & Installing Handmade Tiles (A Lark Ceramics Book) 
• Handmade Tiles: Designing * Making * Decorating (A Lark Ceramics Book)