ONE by ONE Recycling program collects used contact lens
Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company, has announced its ONE by ONE Recycling program has collected a total of 691,180 pounds, or 114,037,136 units, of used contact lens, eyecare and lens care materials in the United States. The program, created in collaboration with international recycling leader TerraCycle, continues to grow year-over-year, the company noted, driven by the collective efforts of eyecare practices, patients and consumers. For every qualifying shipment of 10 pounds or more from a registered ONE by ONE Recycling Program practice, a $1 per pound donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight—a global initiative dedicated to preventing blindness and vision impairment, the company advised.
“Each America Recycles Day, we celebrate the collective efforts of eyecare professionals, patients and consumers who are helping to properly discard and keep these materials out of the environment,” said Amy Butler, vice president, global environment, health, safety and sustainability, Bausch + Lomb. “Thanks to their commitment, the ONE by ONE Recycling program keeps growing and making a more meaningful impact every year.”
Due to their small size and the type of plastic, these materials aren’t accepted in local recycling facilities and may inadvertently end up in landfills or waterways. In the U.S., it is estimated that six to 10 metric tons of contact lenses end up in wastewater each year, which can pollute aquatic environments and eventually impact the human food supply. The ONE by ONE Recycling program helps ensure these materials are properly recycled and do not end up in the environment, the company said.
“It’s reassuring to know that the everyday eye health materials we use – from contact lenses to lens cases—are being properly recycled through the ONE by ONE Recycling Program,” said Kriti Bhagat, OD, FAAO. “For my patients and practice, it’s a simple but powerful way we can help make a difference.”
In addition to the ONE by ONE Recycling program, Bausch + Lomb established the Every Contact Counts program in Canada, which has collected more than 70,000 pounds (5.2 million units) of used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since launching in 2019.
