Specsavers launches glasses and contact lens recycling initiative

Specsavers in Rochdale is offering customers the chance to recycle their glasses and contact lenses in-store for free

Specsavers in Rochdale is offering customers the chance to recycle their glasses and contact lenses in-store for free.

The new initiative comes after the high-street opticians teamed up with recycling experts MYgroup to install recycling collection boxes at Specsavers stores up and down the country. 

Customers at Specsavers in Rochdale will be able to drop off both metal and plastic glasses and sunglasses, as well as contacts lenses and accessories, including blister packs, contact lens cases and solution bottles.

Once the collections bins are full, the items will be shipped off to MYgroup recycling plant.

The glasses and contact lenses will be given a second lease of life and repurposed into a wide range of items such as furniture, home and garden accessories, including benches and play park equipment.

It can also be used in the building trade as a great alternative to plywood. Unlike some recycled items, the recycled board created by MYgroup has the potential to be recycled over and over again, so any items dropped off for recycling can be repurposed multiple times.

Sarah Culshaw, retail director at Specsavers, said: "At Specsavers we are striving to improve what we do to protect the planet so we are pleased to be offering customers the chance to recycle a range of eyewear products.

"We know from customer feedback that people want to be able to recycle eyecare products, so we are really pleased to be able to meet our customers needs in this important way.

"Sustainability is at the core of our plan for the future and by offering this service we’re making it easier than ever for customers to play their part."

What can I recycle at my local Specsavers?

• Glasses
• Sunglasses
• Contact lenses
• Contact lens plastic packaging (solution bottles, blister packs, cases and tweezers)

What cannot currently be recycled at my local Specsavers?

• Glasses cases - unfortunately these are made of lots of component parts and are not practical to recycle at the moment.
• Lens cloths