Green Suncatchers And Economic Development
Rebecca Larson

Based in Eugene, Oregon, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc. (SVDP) is nationally recognized for innovative recycling programs. Aurora Glass is an economic development project of SVDP, creating value-added products from window pane glass which had been landfilled. At our grand opening on St. Patrick’s Day 1998, emerald green shamrock suncatchers were featured. Our seven full-time employees produce 6,000 pieces each month.

Glass is crushed and formulas added for the desired color, unless we are making emerald, which is created simply by using crushed green pop bottles. After melting, material is poured into molds, slowly cooled and turned into products. Feedstock is mainly window pane glass from BRING Recycling, a major local recycler, as well as pop bottles, jars, etc. Grants from the Bullitt Foundation, Lamb Foundation, Meyer Memorial Foundation, as well as a business loan from the city of Eugene, Oregon helped fund the development of Aurora Glass.

Aurora’s product line includes a variety of gift items as well as architectural glass tiles and drawer pulls. Suncatchers, ornaments and candle holders are Aurora’s “bread and butter” products. We sell retail from our own gift ship on site, as well as wholesale to many accounts throughout the country. Our gift items are also featured in the national catalogs Harmony, Natural Spaces and Eternity Sky. A new product line includes garden plant sticks and wind chimes. The home decor product line has been expanded to include table lamps, coasters, and small and large bowls. Every design is an original.

An additional product is etched glass awards. We’ve created awards and commemorative pieces for organizations around the nation. Our latest custom project is a medallion commemorating the centennial of the late United States Senator from Oregon, Wayne Morse. The design was created by internationally known Mexican sculptor, Gabriel Ponzanelli. He has been commissioned to create a statue which will be installed in our city’s renovated Free Speech Platform in Eugene this October. Aurora Glass tiles will be included in some of the planters surrounding the plaza.

Aurora Glass can be contacted at (541) 681-3260; web site address is: www.auroraglass.org.