Specsavers launches groundbreaking recycling initiative in Plymouth

Specsavers stores in Plymouth are offering customers the chance to be part of an environmental initiative by recycling their glasses and contact lenses for free.

The scheme comes after stores teamed up with recycling experts MYgroup to install recycling collection boxes.  

Customers at Specsavers Plymouth stores will be able to drop off 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 or home and garden accessories, including benches and play park equipment.

The recycled items can also be used in the building trade as an alternative to plywood, because the recycled board created by MYgroup has the potential to be recycled repeatedly.

Nathan Burn, a director at Specsavers Plymouth, says: ‘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.’

This is just one of many steps taken by Specsavers to try to protect the planet and achieve its goal of becoming climate positive – removing more CO2 from the environment than the company generates – by 2035.

Michael Derbyshire, business development manager at MyGroup, said: ‘MyGroup are delighted to be working with Specsavers and helping provide an instore recycling solution for their difficult to recycle waste.

‘Using our expertise, knowledge and innovative recycling systems this initiative will allow Specsavers’ valued customers to recycle material that would have previously been destined for landfill or incineration by turning them into a range of useful products.

‘Partnering with Specsavers validates the hard work we’ve been doing over the years, and we can’t wait to get started.’

Glasses cases and lens cloths cannot currently be recycled at Specsavers.