Following the successful launch of the Kick Plastic Lens Recycling Program for ECPs in March, COSTA announced that optical labs are now able to send both their plastic lens waste as well as any dry plastic finishing “swarf” (plastic lens waste) to 13 Piedmont Plastics locations for recycling and repurposing.

The Kick Plastic Lens Recycling Program has facilitated the recycling of over 700 pounds of discarded plastic lenses at two Piedmont Plastics locations. This is in addition to over 22 tons (approximately 44,000 pounds) of plastic recycling processed from Costa’s Daytona Beach lab. The program, launched earlier this year, encourages optical practices to collect and recycle discarded plastic lenses (including clear demo, tinted, photochromic, sunwear, mirror, AR coated, broken/scratched, prescription, CR-39, high index, polycarbonate and Trivex/Hivex).

“The early response to our Kick Plastic Lens Recycling Program has confirmed our belief that there is a strong will to do right for the planet from eyecare professionals, given the right tools,” says T.J. McMeniman, vice president of marketing, Costa. “We strive to identify ways to protect what we love and share this learning with our partners. Expanding the program to the hundreds of labs across the U.S. is a way for us to scale our efforts as an industry and create more impact.”

Labs can now send all discarded plastic optical lens waste and dry plastic finishing swarf directly to select Piedmont Plastics locations, where it will be recycled and repurposed into safety glasses, motorcycle helmet shields and scuba masks.

ECPs who want to get involved and who are Costa dealers can also become Costa Kick Plastic Ambassadors. In return for their support, they receive a special designation on the Costa dealer locator website, as well as Kick Plastic water bottles for their staff and communication materials to encourage patients to join the movement and “#kickplastic.”

Labs and ECPs interested in participating in the lens recycling program (both Costa dealers and non-Costa dealers) can contact Costa at [email protected] for a list of recycling locations and other information.

–Andrew Karp