There's no longer a need to haunt Ebay for Ron Popeil's Ronco Bottle and Jar Cutter kit from the 70's--Ray Delmuro's got it figured out.
Three years ago, the owner and creator of Refresh Glass perfected a way to produce sturdy, dishwasher-safe drinking glasses from discarded wine bottles. He admits he's a little Willy Wonka about the process, merely sharing that after he acquired a bottle-cutting kit (unfortunately, a modern version of Ronco's) that took hours to complete, his engineering background kicked in, and he knew there had to be a timelier, more efficient manner.
The company has since saved more than 100,000 bottles from landfill eternity--and expanded production space from Delmuro's garage to a 5,500-square-foot shop. They repurpose around 2,000 bottles a week, pulling all of their bottles from Arizona businesses and wineries such as Dos Cabezas and Pillsbury Wine.
Refresh Glass has already started obtaining a national clientele. "The majority of what we make is sent out of state," Delmuro says, since his creations can also be ordered online. "I want to get up to about 1,000,000 bottles a year."
To purchase Refresh Glass products, visit their website or Practical Art at 5070 N. Central Avenue and The Phoenix Public Market at 14 E. Pierce Street; both in Phoenix. Check them out on Facebook, too.
