You can recycle quartz countertops made of extremely durable materials.
Since the quartz remains workable even if you leave each piece unpolished, you can remodel your quartz countertop without harming it.
So, can you recycle quartz countertops? Yes, recycling quartz countertop is possible in many situations and many recycling centers accept quartz countertops for recycling.
For instance, you can recycle quartz countertops made of granite or marble at many recycling centers throughout the country. Some recycling centers even offer pickup services for old countertops made from these materials.
Quartz countertops are recyclable and one company offers to take them back free of charge.
Can You Recycle Quartz Countertops?
Contents
Yes, and many companies actually will pick it up for you for no cost at all.
Quartz countertops are made from recycled quartz pieces bonded together with resin.
Many quartz countertops on the consumer market are made of recycled quartz strips that were destined for landfill disposal.
Quartz countertops are relatively simple to recycle and, in many situations, you can recycle them yourself without having to pay for a pickup service.
Where Can You Recycle Quartz Countertops?
The issue with recycling quartz countertops is that most are made out of granite or marble and can be recycled in most places that sells granite or marble slabs.
It’s possible that the ones made of concrete or resin will not be accepted.
So, although you may be able to recycle the countertop, there may be limitations as to where you can recycle it.
If you’re working with a kitchen manufacturer that may buy back the countertop from you, the company will have information on where the countertop can be recycled.
Instead, the contractor will be using the quartz countertop as part of the job and may be able to recycle it for free or a small cost.
In certain situations, a quartz countertop provider may accept a returned quartz countertop.
They will often return the quartz countertop to you with a free replacement or allow you to upgrade to the newest design as a goodwill gesture.
How Are Quartz Countertops Recycled?
Quartz countertops are not host to any dangerous chemicals or elements.
They wouldn’t be nearly as popular and sought after if they were hazardous to landfills.
Quartz countertops, on the other hand, are made of a mix of natural materials and synthetic materials including resins and pigments that make it ideal for sustainability and recycling.
The majority of quartz countertops are ultimately recycled back into other uses including roadbed filler and roofing granules.
This is one of the reasons quartz countertops are so popular in commercial buildings and industrial applications.
They may not have the necessary equipment to recycle the quartz countertop and the market for the recycled quartz is relatively small.
The grinding of the countertops and the colorants and dyes used in the process are recycled and reused into other jobs and applications.
Some chemicals will be added back into the quartz countertops which make them less appealing for landscaping and gardening applications, but they are still very useful as far north as the Canadian border.
The resin and other chemicals are melted down and recycled into other commercial uses as well.
How Do You Prepare Quartz Countertops for Recycling?
There’s not much you can to do prepare the recycled quartz for recycling, but there are a few things to avoid doing before recycling the quartz countertops.
The greatest thing you need to worry about is the stains on the quartz countertops.
Make sure they are thoroughly washed before recycling them because, although the majority of the resins are melted down, some resin will remain on the countertops.
You must not attempt to remove stains from quartz countertops using acidic cleansers or bleaches. Because the resin will melt and fall off the countertops in large chunks.
It’s doubtful that you’ll be able to move these larges blocks of resin off the countertops to another location where they can be scraped up and disposed of properly.
To get items to the recycling facility and pick them up, sometimes it involves significant expense on your part, so take the proper precautions and avoid throwing anything into the recycle bin that shouldn’t be there and that might cause.
Can You Sell Old Quartz Countertops?
Yes, and old quartz countertops are valuable and can be sold.
They are strong and durable and can make excellent countertops if you add a sheet of plywood to the bottom and laminate over it.
Just because you don’t want your countertops anymore doesn’t mean they are of no value to someone else.
They sell quickly, particularly if you have a lot of material or a large amount left.
Remember that you are unlikely to be able to sell old quartz countertop scraps or leftover fragments.
Because these are too small and of no use to large fabricators or builders.
If you’re selling them, make sure you know what you’re getting into and that you can haul the material away.
Can You Put Quartz Countertops Into the Trash?
No, and quartz countertops are a non-renewable resource that should never be put into the trash.
They are very durable and can be recycled if they are in good condition.
The trash guys would not even accept them if they were dirty or greasy.
In certain towns and localities, leaving anything in the trash that is not biodegradable or recyclable is illegal, but in some places it is not.
You also shouldn’t toss quartz or granite scraps into the trash or leave them curbside if other people might see them and take them.
It seems unjust to send these already valuable materials to the dump when they could be recycled and repurposed instead.
Also Read: How to Dispose of Chlorine Tablets Safely
Conclusion
The answers to “can you recycle quartz countertops?” is yes, you can recycle them. You can recycle quartz countertops made of very durable materials and you can remodel your quartz countertop without harming it.
Quartz countertops are recyclable and one company provides a collection service where they can take care of the recycling for you.
Quartz countertops may be recycled. Quartz countertops, in fact, are quite simple to recycle. Despite the fact that they will be fairly heavy, it is virtually certain that at least one firm in the vicinity will take them off your hands. If that fails, you may sell them to someone in desperate need of a countertop.