Specsavers in Bolton is offering customers the chance to recycle their glasses and contact lenses in-store for free.

The new initiative comes after the high-street opticians teamed up with recycling experts MYgroup to install recycling collection boxes at Specsavers stores up and down the country.

The boxes will be situated in both town centre stores, and the Middlebrook site.

Customers in Bolton will be able to recycle both metal and plastic glasses and sunglasses, contact lenses, and contact lens plastic packaging, including the solution bottles, blister packs, cases and tweezers.

Once the collection bins are full, they will be shipped to Mygroup’s recycling plant where they will be repurposed into a wide range of items.

The contact lenses and glasses can be turned into things such as furniture, home and garden accessories, including benches and play park equipment. They can also be used in the building trade as a great alternative to plywood.

The recycled board that Mygroup has created has the potential to be recycled over and over again, so any items dropped off for recycling can be repurposed multiple times, unlike some other recycled materials. 

Kevin Juste, Director at Specsavers Bolton, said: “At Specsavers 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.”

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.”