Quartz countertops are well known for their good looks and their high durability. Quartz countertops are pretty much designed to last for a lifetime. However, some people want to get rid of their quartz countertops. Most of the time, they have decided to renovate their kitchen.
Quartz countertops are recyclable and one of the most eco-friendly materials in countertop construction. Most installers will take them off your hands for free if they’re replacing your countertop. If you’re doing the installation yourself, you’ll probably have to pay a little to recycle it.
So, what can you do with quartz countertops? Can you recycle them? Let’s take a look!
Can You Recycle Quartz Countertops?
Yes. Quartz countertops are incredibly eco-friendly. Many quartz countertops on the market have been partially made from recycled materials.
Quartz countertops are very easy to recycle and, in many cases, can be turned back into a countertop, although quartz can be used to make all different products.
Where Can You Recycle Quartz Countertops?
The problem with recycling quartz is that there may not be many locations in your local area that will accept quartz countertops. The ones that do exist may be built for commercial customers. So, while you may be able to go there and have your quartz countertops recycled, you may have to pay a small fee for the privilege.
However, this is going to be more than worth it. You probably do not want bulky countertops sitting around your home, do you?
If you are working with a kitchen builder, you may not even have to consider recycling them. Instead, the builder can haul them away and recycle them for you.
In some cases, you may find that a quartz countertop supplier in your local area can take the old countertops off of your hands. Many of them will have a direct connection to the manufacturer.
In many cases, they will ship the quartz countertops back to the manufacturer, who will then be able to recycle them. Of course, don’t just take your old countertops somewhere before you have confirmed whether they can accept them. After all, if they do not accept it, you will have been carrying around some heavy slabs of quartz for nothing.
How Are Quartz Countertops Recycled?
Despite what some people believe, quartz countertops are not solid rock. If they were, they wouldn’t be anywhere near as tough as they are.
Instead, quartz countertops are formed of small pieces of quartz bound together with various materials. This will mostly be resin. This is partly why not all recycling companies can accept quartz countertops. They may not have the proper equipment to separate the resin from the quartz.
The recycling process begins by grinding up the countertops. Some chemicals will be added that can help to purify the quartz. The resin and the other chemicals used to bind everything together will be removed.
The remaining quartz can then be again bound into a quartz countertop with some fresh resin. All the chemicals removed from the quartz will be safely disposed of. It is unlikely that any of them can be reused.
How Do You Prepare Quartz Countertops for Recycling?
You can’t do much to prepare your quartz countertops for recycling.
The best thing to do is to give the countertops a good cleaning. Make sure that they look as good as they possibly can. The recycling center may reject them if they are too filthy.
Under absolutely no circumstances should you try to cut the countertop. We know it can be tempting to do because they are so heavy, but cutting through a quartz countertop is ridiculously difficult. You will need to use a circular saw with a diamond-tipped blade, and even then, that may struggle to get through the quartz.
You will unlikely be able to lift the countertops, so get a couple of people to help you. You may need a trailer hitched up to your vehicle to transport them to the recycling center. Make sure you call in advance to ensure that they will be able to accept them from you.
Can You Put Quartz Countertops Into the Trash?
No. They are too big and bulky. If the garbage men saw that you had quartz countertops ready for collection, they wouldn’t even touch them. In some towns and cities, you may even get fined for leaving something this bulky outside your home.
It would be best if you weren’t throwing them in hired dumpsters, either. As we said, these countertops are so recyclable that sending them to the landfill seems to be a bit unfair. You should never put something in the trash if it can be recycled.
Can You Sell Old Quartz Countertops?
Sure. They are durable and built to last an incredibly long time. Just because you do not want your old quartz countertops doesn’t mean there won’t be somebody else out there who wants them.
They sell incredibly well, especially if you price them just right. Remember that you will probably not get anywhere near the same price as new ones. Although, at least you will be getting some money out of them.
If you are selling them, ensure that you accurately measure them (in both metric and imperial measurements) and list them on the selling page. This way, the buyer knows exactly what they are getting, i.e., whether it will fit their kitchen.
Conclusion
You can recycle quartz countertops. Quartz countertops are very easy to recycle. While they will be pretty heavy, it is almost guaranteed that there will be at least one company in the local area that will take them off your hands. Failing that, you will be able to sell them to somebody in dire need of a countertop.
