Monitors turned into tiles

[KiwiCoromandel]

NZ recycler TerraNova hopes it may have one answer to the vexed issue of what to do with the glass in unwanted computer monitors and TV sets.

The glass contains lead and other highly toxic heavy metals that will leach into the environment if it is disposed of in landfills – the "biggest concern" identified in the report e-Waste in New Zealand.

TerraNova is experimenting with mixing the glass with that of recycled bottles and jars and turning it into floor and wall tiles, which can substitute for conventional ceramic tiles.

Chief executive Richard Lloyd says tests so far indicate that an equal mix of glass from monitors and bottles and jars "makes for a very good tile". The glass from e-waste also has a lower melting point, so using a blend reduces energy costs.

"CRT glass is a very high quality glass and it has some properties that complement the packaging glass quite nicely and it does make for a very robust tile," he says.

TerraNova is now awaiting the results of independent tests to check whether the firing process safely binds in the toxic lead, solenium and cadmium so it can't leach out.

"I would have to say, looking at the quality of the tiles, I am reasonably confident those results will come back positive.

"You might not be able to eat off them, but I'd certainly assume you could walk on them or use them as shower walls."

New Zealand imports about 1.5 million square meters of ceramic tiles a year, but Mr Lloyd concedes the sheer volume of glass from disused monitors is a "scary prospect". TerraNova intends to investigate other possible uses.

"The key is to find out what properties it has, and then identify markets that may benefit from those properties."

source:reuters

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

That guy looks like spawn of Sean Connery and Mitch Pileggi.