World’s tallest glass tree: A mission of sustainability and holiday cheer [Video]

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — It’s that time of year again — yes, of course, Christmas time — but also time to see the world’s largest glass tree in Lake Geneva. However, this installment may appear a little less evergreen than before.

The glass pine stretches 36 feet into the air at the Historic Yerkes Observatory and this year artist Jason Mack and producer Rob Elliot will use 3,000 pounds of recycled blue glass instead of the green glass used in seasons past.

Surrounding communities donated many of their bottles, helping to build a sustainable future. The Glass Recycling Foundation, Glass Packaging Institute and Strategic Materials Inc. work closely with Elliot to build glass collection systems year-round in northern Illinois and southeast Wisconsin.

“A glass bottle can be remade a million times over and live hundreds of lives without losing durability,” Elliot said. “In so many ways the tree itself represents …