The Acuvue Contact Lens Recycling Programme: How You Can Help Reduce Waste
If you wear contact lenses, you may not have given much thought to what happens to those tiny plastic lenses, blister packs, and foil covers after you’re done with them. Unfortunately, many of these items end up in landfill, contributing to plastic waste. However, thanks to the Acuvue Contact Lens Recycling Programme, there’s now a simple and effective way to recycle them.
Our Cheltenham Branch participates in the Acuvue Contact Lens Recycling Programme, which is part of a larger initiative by Terracycle to reduce waste.
How the Programme Works
- Collection: Bring in your used contact lenses, blister packs, and foil covers to our recycling point. You don’t have to be a patient, and it doesn’t matter where you purchased your contact lenses.
- Recycling Process: Once collected, the materials are sent to Terracycle, where they are sorted and processed. The contact lenses and packaging are cleaned, shredded, and melted down into plastic pellets.
- Reuse: These pellets are then used to create new plastic products, such as outdoor furniture, playground equipment, and benches, helping to divert tonnes of plastic from ending up in landfill.
Why Recycling Contact Lenses is Important
Contact lenses may seem small, but they’re part of a bigger environmental issue. Many people dispose of them incorrectly, often flushing them down the toilet. This can lead to microplastics ending up in our waterways, contributing to ocean pollution.
By choosing to recycle your contact lenses, you’re helping reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. In fact, the Acuvue Contact Lens Recycling Programme has already recycled over 15 million contact lenses, blister packs, and foils in the UK. Each small action adds up, and by recycling, you’re making a tangible difference.
How You Can Get Involved
It’s simple to start recycling your contact lenses. Collect your used lenses, blister packs, and foil covers, and bring them into our Cheltenham Branch.
Make a Positive Environmental Impact
Recycling your contact lenses is an easy and effective way to help the environment. Whether you’re a daily or monthly lens wearer, every pair of lenses recycled helps reduce the amount of plastic waste in landfills and oceans.
For more information on sustainability take a look at The Importance of Recycling Your Old Glasses and Sustainable Frames: Style with a Conscience.
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