What to do with your old glasses and sunglasses
Repairing and rewearing is the most eco friendly way to reuse your old glasses, but the next best planet friendly option is to recycle your old glasses so here's how.
It’s national Recycle Week so here’s some handy hints on recycling your old glasses and sunglasses. Repairing and rewearing is the most eco friendly way to reuse your old glasses, but the next best thing is to recycle your old eyewear.
Glasses frames are a tricky mix of metal and plastic, they currently can’t be simply popped in with the household recycling, as the materials need separating out to be fully recycled.
So how can you recycle your old glasses? Here’s our guide to recycling and donating glasses and sunglasses.
reduce glasses waste
Choosing a quality pair of glasses is the best way to reduce glasses waste and keep them out of landfill. Look for quality acetate, metal not plastic hinges and a nice weight and feel will reveal a well made pair.
Go for vintage or preloved secondhand glasses frames over buying new for a more circular sustainable option.
Look after your eyewear, as loved things last. Keep in the case and clean with the cloth - no leaving glasses lens down and you’ll avoid scratches and cracks - head here for more on how to look after your glasses.
Repair and rewear your old frames instead of being tempted to buy new each time your prescription updates.
Repair and rewear old glasses
If you can't bear to part with your favourite glasses, reuse and rewear your old eyewear. Damaged lenses can be reglazed and updated while your frames can be repaired and restored to bring them back into use.
Frame scratching and whitening can be polished out, hinges repaired, nose pads replaced and sides straightened. The reglazing process is easy and your old lenses can be simply replaced with your new updated prescription.
If you’re still in love your current frame, re-lensing glasses is the perfect sustainable solution. You have the option to add in extra coatings or add in a blue light filter for a pocket friendly alternative to buying new.
Or you could add in a tinted lens and turn your old glasses into sunglasses, breathing new life into your old pair.
recycle your old glasses
Old glasses frames or vintage sunglasses hanging around? Don't throw them away - feel good and give back by donating them to us to be recycled or upcycled.
Donate your old frames and we’ll repurpose them by restoring and reselling your unwanted frames saving them from landfill. Or we’ll reuse their parts for repairs. The majority of our donated frames go on to Lions Club who use them to do good in sight related projects in the UK and overseas.
Any we can’t salvage go for recycling at a specialist facility.
Send us your vintage glasses or modern glasses frames and you’ll receive a £10 voucher to spend in store on a new-to-you frame.
You can also donate them direct to Lions Club who will use them to raise money for sight related charity projects across the UK. Vision Aid Overseas are no longer running their glasses recycling scheme.
We don’t recommend donating your old glasses to charity shops, unless they have a designated glasses recycling collection box, as they won’t be able to resell the glasses with prescription lenses and might just end up in landfill. They may accept ready reading glasses, but check with your local charity shop first.
play Dress Up
Keep your old glasses for costume parties and fancy dress. Mums.. a small supply of glasses, particlarly round Harry Potter frames, can come in more than useful for World Book Day. Then there’s Halloween and theme parties to consider.. go as your favourite glasses icon.. we’re thinking Elton John, Iris Apfel, Jackie O or Michael Caine.
re-Sell your old glasses
Cotton Bro
Keep unwanted eyewear out of landfill and make a little money for your next frame purchase by selling your old glasses on eBay or Depop. Use a good picture and lots of lovely description to help them sell, remembering to include any flaws. Glasses, especially modern frames, have eye size, frame width and lots of information including make and model numbers on the inside to help you make that sale.
gift your glasses
Daria shevtsova
Give your glasses as a gift to friends or family, a frame might just suit them too. We wouldn’t advise sharing lenses with your bespoke prescription, as wearing the incorrect strength can damage your peepers, so lenses should be removed first.
Your gifted glasses can be restored and reglazed as a present for a loved one or made into ready reading glasses perfect for regifting.
If you want to learn more about what you can and can’t recycle - head over to Recycle Now and let’s keep what we can out of landfill #reducereuserecycle
Jo
How to clean your glasses
Help your glasses live longer by looking after them with a little tlc, here's our guide to cleaning your glasses and taking care of your eyewear.
Keep your glasses in tip top condition by keeping them clean. They’ll naturally last longer and they won’t need replacing as often, which will make them even more sustainable - here's our top tips to taking care of your eyewear..
shape up
Get your glasses in shape - did you know there’s a right and a wrong way to remove your frames? Whipping them off one handed and wearing them as a handband will result in stretching and before you know it you’re out of shape.
Like many other things in life - it’s better if you use both hands. If you’re guilty of this, head down to your local Opticians and ask for them to be adjusted and reshaped or send them into us.
Keep them in your case - it's their natural habitat and not only keeps dust and dirt away, prevents bending and breakages. Stow in the glove box on a summers day - don't leave them on your dashboard - they just can't take the heat. And always place your precious eyewear lens up - otherwise you’re just asking for trouble.
how to clean your glasses
Cleaning in the wrong way with the wrong tools can damage your lenses and frames, so we’re answering your questions on how to clean and care for your glasses...
What do i clean my glasses with
Clothing is made up of fibres and can contain particles of dirt, both of which can scratch your lenses. Drying glasses lenses with paper towels, tissues, napkins or the end of your top is a big NO NO.
A scratch resistant coating will give you some protection, but even that can’t save you from yourself. Unlike frames, scratching to lenses can’t safely be polished out without danger of removing coatings and they will need to be replaced.
The only thing that’s qualified for cleaning is your glasses cleaning cloth. If you can’t put your hands on your optical cloth, you can come to us and purchase another – ours are upcycled from recycled plastic bottles.
Optical cleaning cloths are also ace at cleaning mobile phones too and you can pop your cloth in the wash at 30° to keep it fresh.
how often should I clean my glasses
Keep your frames and lenses in good condition with regular cleaning.
We recommend a daily lens clean with your optical cloth and at least a monthly deep clean of both frame and lenses.
Upgrade your routine to a weekly deep cleaning regime if you’re prone to perspiring, wear make-up daily or have an oily skin type. This will remove the build up of oils, make-up and grime, keeping both your glasses and your skin tip top.
How should i clean my glasses
The best way to clean your glasses is with simple luke warm soapy water and a soft cloth. If you live in a hard water area like we do, use filtered or distilled water instead of tap and use a mild natural soap - avoid detergent, scented soaps or ones containing dyes and alcohol based solutions as they can damage lenses.
You can use a soft bristled toothbrush to get in and around detailing and motifs, but take care not to use on your lenses.
Adding a bit of the hand soap onto your fingers work it onto the lenses in a circular motion to remove the build up of dirt, dust and oils.
After rinsing, dry your frame thoroughly with a smooth, clean, lint-free cloth like the one you get from us.
Lens cleaners can work well, but you need to make sure they're suitable for coated lenses and they generally come in a plastic bottle so the best choice for planet and pocket is good ole soap and water.
Be sure to avoid harsh chemical cleaners on your frames or lenses to avoid damage and keep them in pristine condition.
what if i’ve scratched my glasses
If you’ve committed one of the spectacle sins and your glasses suffer some scratching or damage don't panic, we’ve got all the solutions with our refurbishing and restoration services…
peep polish
Our polishing service for plastic (acetate and optyl) frames, cleanses and removes scratches and restore lustre for frames in need a of some tlc.
We dismantle and clean in our ultra sonic cleaner ‘Bubbles’, before taking a turn on our buffer where they’re lovingly polished, then they’ll be oiled, re-assembled, heat treated and adjusted, becoming reborn and restored to former glory.
glasses reglaze
If you’ve been cleaning them on your clothes or storing them naked in your handbag and your lenses have sustained some scratching, our reglazing service is for you.
We can replace the lenses in any frame, vintage or modern, prescription or sunglasses.
If your glasses have sustained serious trauma take a peep at our Repair Services. We can repair and restore most things but if they’re beyond help check out our range of sustainable, planet friendly vintage and preloved glasses and sunglasses.
For more info, take a peep at our article on what to do with your old glasses.
Just remember to keep it clean!
Jo