ROMBACHS RECYCLES EVERYTHING! by Timm Muth re·cy·cle | \ (ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl : to pass again through a series of changes or treatments. : to process in order to regain material for use. : to adapt or alter something to fit a new use. The idea of recycling is nothing new. These days, most of us do it without even thinking. But do those efforts really have an impact in the glass world? We all accept that working with glass is an energy-intensive process. Most glass artists are cognizant that their concerns about global climate change are often in direct conflict with their personal levels of energy use. When asked, most artists will express a desire to be less energy intensive, to reduce the size of their carbon footprint, and lessen their impact on the world. But for many, this remains just an item on their wish list, because making a living usually trumps concerns for the climate. However, in Antwerp, Belgium, one glass artist insists on putting his beliefs foremost, incorporating every aspect of sustainability he can manage. Refusing to play a role in a single-use world, Frederik Rombach made a commitment early in his career to incorporate the mantra of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” into the very bones of his business. This commitment then drives his daily decisions into studio operations, energy use, materials sourcing, and community impact. At his studio, Rombach uses only recycled glass bottles for his raw materials. He fostered a connection with a local recycling firm and picks through their mountains of collected bottles -waste glass- taking what he wants for free. In return, Rombach brings in objects created with the materials as a gift. This has resulted in the recycling firm commissioning him to create sets of custom mugs for their employees and clients. Frederik feels that this practice GASNEWS
Photo courtesy of Frederik Rombach
allows him to be an active part of the overall waste stream. It also provides an opportunity to encourage others to recycle and reuse waste glass. Frederik also incorporates recycled energy, as it were, into his operations. Rombachs Glass is one of the only public glass studios in the entire EU using biogas to provide the heat for the furnace, glory holes, and other hot shop equipment. Biogas—which is simply methane derived from the decomposition of organic materials—is a simple replacement for propane or natural gas. While biogas use is fairly commonplace in many EU countries, it is usually reserved for largescale uses such as transportation and is unavailable to small-scale users like glass artists. Unwilling to accept such limitations, Frederik installed a large gas
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storage tank behind his studio. He then partnered with the creative hub where the studio is situated to be able to meet the gas company’s quota. Now a delivery truck visits Rombachs Glass on a regular basis, providing all the gas he needs to fire his entire shop using a sustainable energy resource. With an eye to the future, Frederik is looking to create a mobile glassblowing furnace that can be fired using recycled cooking oil, using a specialty waste vegetable oil burner designed by Organic Combustion Systems LLC*. He sees this as an opportunity to incorporate another renewable energy resource into his operations and create a platform by which he can take his message of sustainability out into the community. Perhaps the most important piece of this sustainable puzzle for Frederik is
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