Mainland Europe experienced its first total solar eclipse in more than 25 years on Wednesday, giving millions of people an unforgettable view of the rare celestial event.
As excitement grew, some people in the UK faced a shortage of certified eclipse glasses and raced to find protective eyewear before the eclipse began.
If you managed to get a pair, you may now be wondering: what should you do with your eclipse glasses?
“Eclipse glasses are a great example of our throwaway culture,” says Dr Renee Tonkin, founder of Science Owl, an environmental education organisation focused on reducing waste.
“They can be particularly difficult to recycle because they are made from mixed materials.”
According to Recycle Now, which provides guidance on recycling household items, eclipse glasses cannot usually be placed directly in standard household recycling.
The cardboard frames may be recyclable if they are separated from the lenses. However, the lenses are more difficult to process and may require specialist recycling.
Before throwing them away, check whether the glasses are undamaged and suitable for safe reuse. You could also look for a specialist recycling scheme or follow your local council’s waste guidance.
Here are three practical ways to reuse or recycle your solar eclipse glasses responsibly.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk