Do you have an old pair of glasses sitting in your dresser drawer that you no longer wear? Why not get those in the hands of someone in need? During the month of August, University Facilities and Services partnered with the Rochester/Finger Lakes Eye and Tissue Bank to implement a University-wide eyeglass recycling collection as a pilot project. The University’s intermural mail system was utilized as a convenient method for any University member to send us their unwanted glasses. The program accepted prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames.
Throughout the course of just one month, 338 pairs of glasses and over 200 glasses cases were collected altogether! Glasses were sent to the Lions Club where program volunteers clean, sort, and package the glasses. Usable glasses are then sent to those in need, mostly in developing countries.
Due to the pilot’s success, the recycling office will be holding two collections per year. The next collection will happen during the month of March as part of National Eye Donor Month.
If you are looking to drop-off your glasses, the Flaum Eye Institute has a year-round collection in their Optical Shop. They also partner with the Lions Club program. The Lions Club also offers other collection methods (click here for details).
A big thank you to Fazeelah Chappell for discovering this program and expanding it to the University as well as to the Rochester/Finger Lakes Eye and Tissue Bank for serving as an intermediary between the Lions Club!
See pictures on the UR Sustainable Facebook page.
If you have used eyeglasses you no longer need, you can donate them now. They accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. http://www.lionsclubs.org