Santa Ana, CA—In an effort to support the California Department of Conservation, Orange County-based Eco Precast™ has announced the manufacture of Urbanslabs™, sustainable, cement-based slabs now available for a variety of residential and commercial surface applications. Crafted by hand, Urbanslabs™ consist of 60% recycled, post-consumer glass containers such as beer, wine and liquor bottles that are commonly sent to landfill.

“Eco Precast is taking a truly innovative look at the use of waste as a resource,” said architect Jorden Segraves, chair of the United States Green Building Council’s Pacific Regional and Orange County chapters. “Urbanslabs™ represent a completely new use for discarded glass. The company is effectively replacing a farmed resource with a reclaimed or “found” resource that fills a unique niche in the industry and product market.”

Urbanslabs™ can be cut, bull-nosed, seamed and polished just like the fabrication of natural stone slabs such as granite. They are available for a wide array of surface uses including countertops, bathroom vanities, shower panels, floor tiles, backsplash tiles, bathroom stall dividers, wall clad panels, outdoor living surfaces, book shelves and furniture tops.

Urbanslabs™ are available in thirteen colors, ranging from natural concrete gray to Cosmo purple to coordinate with a variety of décor themes. Eco Precast’ unique surface-polishing process exposes the glass and provides excellent scratch resistance. Eco Sealer™, the newest generation of concrete sealer, is applied to the slab at time of manufacture and again at installation to provide outstanding protection from stains.

Urbanslabs™ provide an economical option to poured-in-place and pre-cast concrete countertops, which are priced from $175 per square foot installed. In comparison to granite, which currently ranges from $48 to $55 per square foot installed, Urbanslabs™ cost approximately $74 per square foot installed.

The standard dimension of Urbanslabs™ is 8’ X 3’ X ¾”. Custom sizes, colors and finishes are available. The product is now available through local natural stone distributors.