Have you ever wondered what to do with your old or broken glasses once you no longer need them? Instead of tossing them into the bin, where they’ll likely end up in a landfill, you can do your part for both the environment and communities around the world by recycling them.

Every year, millions of people in developing countries struggle with poor eyesight simply because they don’t have access to affordable eyeglasses. This is where your old glasses can make a world of difference.

At our branches, we’re proud to support Lions Clubs International’s Spectacle Recycling programme. This initiative collects old, damaged, or unwanted spectacles, sorts them, and gives them a new life, transforming lives along the way.

How Spectacle Recycling Works

  1. Collection: You can drop off any spectacles—whether they’re in good condition or broken—at one of our branches. You don’t have to be a patient, and they don’t have to have been purchased from us.
  2. Sorting & Grading: Once collected, the glasses are sent to designated Lions Clubs facilities. Volunteers sort them by prescription strength and condition. Usable glasses are cleaned and prepared for redistribution.
  3. Distribution: These spectacles are then shipped to Medico France, a partner that distributes them across the globe. In fact, UK Lions Clubs account for more than half of the 300,000 pairs of spectacles processed by Medico France each year.
  4. Sustainability Efforts: Broken or unsuitable glasses don’t go to waste either. Their metal components are salvaged and recycled, with proceeds used to fund various eye health initiatives, generating over £675,000 since the project began.
Why We're Right For You Handing over broken glasses to optician for recycling

Who Benefits From Recycled Glasses?

Your old glasses could find their way to children and adults across Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, Nepal, and beyond. These glasses, which might seem like clutter in your drawer, can transform someone’s life, allowing them to go to school, get a job, or simply see the world clearly for the first time.

The impact isn’t just individual—it’s societal. By reducing visual impairment, we help foster improved educational outcomes and economic development. Lions Clubs’ spectacle recycling programme has led to £486,000 being donated to sight-related charitable causes, showing the massive reach of even the smallest gestures.

contact us , policies , supervised tasks , Health & Safety Policy , contact lenses Broken pair of glasses ready to be recycled

Why Recycling Matters

Besides helping those in need, recycling your glasses is an eco-friendly choice. Many frames contain metals, plastics, and other materials that don’t break down easily in landfills. By recycling, you’re helping to reduce waste and save valuable resources.

How You Can Get Involved

It’s simple: just gather any unwanted glasses from around the house and bring them into one of our branches. Whether your child has outgrown their prescription, you’ve upgraded to a new pair, or you’ve held onto a broken frame just in case—you can make a difference.

about us , recruitment , Why We're Right For You , advice , hearing , Children’s Glasses Pile of old and broken glasses for recycling

Don’t let your old glasses go to waste. Help change lives and protect the environment. Find your nearest practice and drop off your unwanted spectacles today.

For more information on sustainability take a look at ‘The Acuvue Contact Lens Recycling Programme: How You Can Help Reduce Waste’ and ‘Sustainable Frames: Style with a Conscience’.

 

a young woman with long red hair looking happy wearing her new glasses after her eye test in Cheltenham contact us , policies , supervised tasks , Health & Safety Policy , contact lenses

Both myself and my husband use this opticians. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

Carol Thompson