SILHILLIANS are being urged to recycle their contact lenses in a bid to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.
The national scheme gives wearers of any brand of soft lens the chance to drop their discarded items and packaging at a network of recycling bins at Boots Opticians and selected independent stores.
In Solihull there are collection points at Boots on Mill Lane in Solihull, Stratford Road in Shirley, Warwick Road in Acocks Green, Coventry Road in Sheldon and Coventry Road in Yardley.
The scheme is a collaboration between the medical manufacturer Johnson and Johnson Vision and the recycling firm TerraCycle.
TerraCycle said the recycled contact lenses, blister and foil packaging will be turned into products such as outdoor furniture.
Professor Shah, who is president of the British Contact Lens Association and founding partner of Solihull-based Midland Eye, said: “I welcome this scheme, which is open to all contact lens users – regardless of the brand they wear and the facilities allow for the disposal of the blister packs and foil packaging.
“There are a variety of different types of contact lens on the market and they are all non-biodegradable and that is the problem.
“It’s going to save an awful lot of plastic waste.
“Nearly four million people wear contact lenses across the UK and, when you add up the waste from both the contact lenses and their containers, this adds up to a figure of around a kilo per person per year.
“Figures suggest that one in five people just flush their used lenses down the loo.
“Every little bit helps and this is an easy win.”
For more and to find out where the nearest recycling point is visit www.terracycle.co.uk/en-GB/brigades/acuvue
