The Spectator

Give your old contact lenses a new purpose

If you wear contact lenses, you may not have considered what happens to them once they’ve been worn. Across the UK, millions of contact lenses are thrown away or washed down the drain every year, contributing to plastic waste and microplastic pollution.

Contact lenses aren’t suitable for your household recycling, but there is a more responsible way to dispose of them.

At The Eye Place, we make it easy to recycle your used contact lenses and packaging, helping to reduce unnecessary waste and give these materials a new purpose. 

How does it work?

It couldn’t be simpler.

Collect your used contact lenses and packaging at home, then bring them into your local The Eye Place practice. Our team will take care of the rest.

The collected materials are sent for specialist processing, where they can be recycled and given a new purpose.

Whether you wear contact lenses every day or just occasionally, recycling them is a simple step that can help reduce unnecessary waste.

What can you recycle?

You can bring your:

• Used soft contact lenses
• Contact lens blister packs
• Foil from contact lens packaging

Please empty any remaining contact lens solution from the packaging before bringing it into practice.

A small change that makes a difference

Contact lenses make everyday life easier for millions of people, but regular use can create a significant amount of waste. Recycling your lenses and packaging is an easy way to make a more sustainable choice without changing your contact lens routine.

So, next time you finish a pack of lenses, don’t throw them away. Bring them into your local The Eye Place practice and we’ll help make sure they’re recycled responsibly. 

Want to know more about our contact lens recycling scheme? Speak to a member of our team at your local practice.

Thinking about trying contact lenses or due for a new prescription? Book your contact lens appointment online today.