Countertops made with recycled materials are a great way to revamp your kitchen with Mother Earth in mind. There are several products made from post-consumer recycled stock that rival traditional, non-renewable stone. Though countertops made from plastic laminate, granite, and quartz are popular choices, they aren't the most environmentally sound. Granite and quartz, for instance, although natural, require extensive mining, and the acrylic resins used as binders in most conventional brands of stone are derived from petroleum. To top it off, these weighty materials require a significant amount of energy to transport.

Purchasing countertops made from recycled matter keeps excess waste out of landfills, while adding a bit of flair to your home.

Recycled glass
Beer bottles, windshields, and traffic lights are just a few of the post-consumer and post-industrial materials used to craft glass countertops. These durable and eco-friendly alternatives blend pieces of recycled glass with a concrete, cement, or resin base, and can be customized to match almost any color. When shopping for glass-based countertops, look for a locally manufactured product made from post-consumer materials.

Pay attention to the kinds of binders used in these materials. One good binder ingredient is fly ash (which is, paradoxically, a by-product of coal burning). This powdered substance can be mixed with the cement base in some brands of glass countertops, reducing the amount of cement needed to strengthen the product. Cement mixed with fly ash is better for the environment because it requires significantly less energy to produce.

Be wary, however, of resins used to bond the recycled matter. Many resin-based products use phenolic or epoxy resin; both are petroleum-based products that present several health risks during their manufacture.

Shopping list:

• IceStone
• Vetrazzo
• EnviroGlas
• 3Form
• Syndecrete (a cement surface blended with a variety of recycled materials)

Recycled paper
Paper-and-resin-based composites also span the color spectrum, and are made from post-consumer recycled paper. These countertops can be made from a range of paper products, including waste paper, cardboard, and newspaper. There's even a brand of waterproof surface made from decommissioned paper money. PaperStone, a well-known paper-based countertop company, makes a petroleum- and formaldehyde-free product using a resin derived from cashew shells. Post-consumer paper surfaces are heat- and stain-resistant and can be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Shopping list:

• PaperStone
• shetkaSTONE

Recycled plastic
Milk jugs and even detergent bottles are more likely to be seen on your kitchen surface, not in it. These and other recycled materials are just part of the formula for countertops made of recycled plastic. Depending on the manufacturer, these moisture-resistant alternatives can have varying percentages of recycled content combined with a binder (one brand is made with acrylic/polyester resins). Plastic countertops are not known to contribute to indoor air pollution, and are available in several colors and styles.

Shopping list:

• Origins
• Avonite

Aluminum
Post-industrial scrap aluminum mixed with a resin binder is used to create a funky-looking form of heat-resistant surface. As an added bonus, these green alternatives are made with reusable metals that can be recycled after use, even if they've had a finish applied.

Shopping list:

• Eleek
• Alkemi

Bamboo
Bamboo isn't just a snack for pandas anymore. Because of its resiliency and rapid renewal, bamboo is considered an excellent substitute for wood that won't have a drastic impact on the environment. Counter manufacturers provide a choice of several heat-resistant styles using food-grade, formaldehyde-free adhesives that are safe enough to use in the kitchen.

Shopping list:

• Totally Bamboo
• Smith & Fong
• Teragren

Tile
Locally manufactured tiles made from post-consumer ceramic are your best bet when seeking traditional tiles. These can also contain up to 70 percent recycled glass and are favorable for their strength and resistance to heat and moisture. Ceramic tiles use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) grout sealants, with a number of textures and styles on the market.

Shopping list:

• Terra Green Ceramics
• Bedrock Industries
• BlazeStone Tile

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