Opticians in South Devon have helped to contribute to recycling more than 50 tonnes of glasses and eyecare materials that customers have dropped off.
The total has been unveiled by the Specsavers stores in Paignton, Totnes, Torquay and Teignmouth as part of Recycle Week (16-22 October).
It also marks reaching the significant milestone of recycling the equivalent of one million pairs of glasses, at stores across the UK, since the initiative began in August 2022.
Teaming up with recycling experts MYgroup, collection points have been available in store for customers to recycle their unwanted specs and contact lens packaging.
Winne Maina, a joint director at Specsavers Paignton, said: ‘A big thank-you to everyone who has helped us with this recycling initiative by bringing in their eyecare products for disposal.
‘To have also contributed to such a huge overall total is brilliant and we want to continue to recycle as much as we can to help reduce the amount of waste to landfill.’
Karen Stone, a joint director at Specsavers Totnes, added: ‘Customers can drop off metal and plastic glasses and sunglasses, as well as contacts lenses and accessories, including blister packs, contact lens cases and solution bottles. Unfortunately, we can’t accept lens cloths or glasses cases.’
Once the collections bins are full, the items are shipped to MYgroup’s recycling plant. The glasses and contact lenses are 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.
Unwanted glasses or eyecare materials can be donated at the Specsavers stores in Paignton, Totnes, Torquay, the Willows or Teignmouth.
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