People looking to update their kitchen sink areas with new countertops may wish to consider composite quartz due to its sustainable properties, it has been suggested. Architect and designer Gemini Watanabe stated that for cooking enthusiasts, work surfaces in this material are particularly useful as it is hard-wearing and can take a lot of abuse, the Journal News reports. Quartz is a waste product of mining and some manufacturers are able to reuse this quartz in their countertops, she remarked, adding that it is a common substance, so homeowners will not be using up precious resources. According to Ms Watanabe, the mineral has many of the same characteristics as granite and is non-porous, which prevents the build up of germs and mould. Maintaining countertops made out of quartz is very simple, she explained, with the added benefit that it does not require sealing. Kitchen expert Raji Radhakrishnan, contributing to a home improvement column in the Washington Post earlier this month, advised one reader to choose stainless steel work surfaces if he could not find a granite option he liked.