How to Recycle & Dispose Of Your Coloured Contact Lenses

May 9, 2017 12:05

As soon as you’re finished using and enjoying your contact lenses, you may be asking what’s next when it comes to lens disposal. We are all trying to do our bit for the environment and as such, here are the best eco-friendly recommendations on how to go green with disposing of coloured contacts.

Sky Blue Two Tone 90 Day Coloured Contact Lenses, Natural Eye Lens

Sky Blue Two Tone Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

90 Day Natural Hazel Mystic Two Tone Colored Contact Lenses

Mystic Hazel Two Tone Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Blue Rain 90 Day Tri Tone Coloured Contact Lenses, Natural Look Lens

Blue Rain Tri Tone Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Angelic Halloween Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses, Bright Blue

Blue Angelic Halloween Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Blue Shiva Coloured Prescription Contacts, Bright Demon Eye

Blue Shiva Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Sky Blue Prescription Coloured Contacts, Dark Blue Eye Contacts

Sky Blue Two Tone Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Blue Emerald Colored Cosmetic Contact Lenses, Non Prescription Lens

Blue Emerald Tri Tone Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Blue Emerald Tri Tone Coloured Contacts, Prescription Contact Lenses

Blue Emerald Tri Tone Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Natural Green Prescription Contacts, Tri Tone Circle Lenses

Green Envy Tri Tone Coloured Prescription Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Hazel Autumn Tri Tone Coloured Contact Lenses, Brown Eye Lens

Hazel Autumn Tri Tone Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Black One Tone Circle 90 Day Coloured Contacts, Cosplay Anime Lenses

Black One Tone Circle Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Blue Grey Two Tone 90 Day Circle Colored Natural Lens

Blue Grey Two Tone Circle Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Green Reptile Coloured Contact Lenses, Non Prescription 90 Day

Green Reptile Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

Red Vampire 90 Day Coloured Contacts, Halloween Twilight Lenses

Red Vampire Coloured Contact Lenses (90 Day)

The Problem with Contact Lens Disposal

Did you know that most types of contact lenses are made from non-biodegradable materials? This means that they are made from plastics that will not dissolve in water. They will remain intact and could make their way into our marine ecosystems; potentially harming wildlife.

To help reduce your plastic waste but still allow you to enjoy wearing coloured contact lenses, why not consider using long duration lenses so that they need to be replaced less frequently? See our 30 Day and 90 Day ranges for reusable contact lenses. You can also re-use and repurpose items such as contact lens cases and lens solution bottles if they are kept thoroughly clean.

How to Correctly Dispose Of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses should be disposed of alongside your regular household waste. It is not advised that you dispose of your contact lenses down the sink or toilet – a surprisingly common way that users dispose of their contacts. This is because the contact lenses will end up in our ecosystems.

Sometimes, contact lenses are so small and thin that they get filtered out in regular recycling systems. This means they have a higher chance of ending up in a regular landfill.

To counter these problems the following schemes have been introduced.

National Contact Lens Recycling Schemes

You’ll be delighted to know that there are many options for contact lens recycling. In the UK, there is currently a national contact lens recycling scheme from Terracycle & Acuvue. With this scheme, you, as a group or as an individual, can recycle contact lenses to earn points.

You can not only recycle the lenses with the programme but parts of the packaging such as the lens blister packs and foil.

Find out more on the contact lens recycling scheme from the Terracycle Contact Lens Recycling page. These schemes make it possible for contact lenses to be made into benches, playground equipment and more.

Disposing of Contact Lens Packaging

Many aspects such as the cardboard packaging and the plastic blister packs are widely recycled. If you receive contact lenses in glass vials then these can be recycled separately.

In most cases, the contact lens foil seals cannot be recycled (unless in a scheme mentioned above) and should be disposed of alongside regular household waste.

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