Belfast City Council has launched a spectacle recycling scheme to help people in developing countries.
Now folks from across the city can donate their unwanted glasses at recycling centres.
The project, in partnership with the Newcastle Lions Club charity, has already seen 3,500 pairs of spectacles collected.
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Belfast Lord Mayor, Christina Black, said: “This is such a wonderful and unique scheme that is ultimately supporting and helping those most in need. I’m delighted council has partnered with the Lions Club to bring this project forward and I would encourage all residents to get involved and donate any unwanted spectacles they might have at home.
“This really is a worthy cause and a shining example of the circular economy in action, where items are repaired and used again rather than being recycled or sent for disposal.”
Residents can bring old spectacles - along with the case if available - to any of the council’s four recycling centres and put them in dedicated used spectacle containers.
They will then be collected by Newcastle Lions Club before being sent to its international humanitarian - Lion Medico in France - for repair and redistribution around the world.
Newcastle Lions President Elizabeth Murphy said: “The first collection from Belfast in July received over 3,500 pairs of glasses. This resulted in ten large boxes filled with spectacles being sent to Lions Medico where they were cleaned, calibrated, identified and sent to developing countries so doctors can meet the needs of their patients.
“Our partnership with Belfast City Council will undoubtedly increase the numbers of donations allowing us to build greater capacity to help more people around the world.”
Other items collected at recycling centres for reuse, include books, CDs, DVDs, clothes and bicycles.
See www.belfastcity.gov.uk/recycling for more information on what you can bring to the sites.
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