Concrete Designs Made with Recycled Materials

What comes to mind when you think about concrete? A sidewalk? A curb?

Well the founders of Natural Elements have other visions.

Counter tops, islands, sinks.

And like the company name, all of the elements that go into Tom Pemble and Ryan Jansen's concrete designs are recycled materials.

Tom Pemble of Natural Elements says, "Some recycled Caterpillar parts that are shredded and put in place of aggregates that we can polish with a diamond polisher down to expose that."

Ryan Jansen of Natural Elements says, "A viable alternative to just your formica or solid surface or granite."

Pemble and Jansen opened Natural Elements Concrete Designs after being laid off about six months ago.

Pemble says with a national push to go green, it was a great time to lose his job as a corporate head hunter.

He says their business is gaining momentum in Central Illinois.

Tom Pemble of Natural Elements says, "It has become very popular on the west coast and I think in the Midwest we're probably a little bit ahead of our time."

At Illinois Valley Glass and Mirror, Linda Franzen is showcasing one of Natural Element's concrete sinks...she says it compliments her TV in a mirror.

This sink has recycled pieces of a stained glass window.

Linda Franzen of Illinois Valley Glass and Mirror says, "It also offers our customers an option that they may not have been thinking about."

And Franzen says after finding out Pemble and his colleague were junk junkies, she starting keeping broken and excess materials to donate to the duo for their creations.

Linda Franzen of Illinois Valley Glass and Mirror says, "I'll give Tom a call and let him know I've got stuff here and then he will come and get the glass that's been broken and rescue it."

Jansen and Pemble say they make unique items specially made for each home, that is eco-friendly and long lasting.

Tom Pemble of Natural Elements says, "The life of the product is probably until you die. The durability of the product is there."

They also hope it solidifies a job for them for years to come.

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