Glass from bottles from restaurants and homes was collected, sorted by color, crushed, washed, melted down, tinted, and used to produce these new blown glass ornaments, angels and Madonnas.

The Recycled Glass Cooperative of Cantel (COPAVIC) was formed in 1976 by the former employees of an Italian-run recycled glass factory in the village of Cantel, near Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The members applied for a loan, purchased land, built the factory themselves, and constructed the heavy-duty kiln needed to melt glass.

The partners are all owners, and there is a master-apprentice system to help new members. Profits are shared responsibly among the members. Fair trade!

And get this, the heat generated in the glass-making is also used to produce electricity, and some of the crushed glass is added to the raw materials for road paving. Green, green, and more green.