Can you recycle glasses (spectacles)?
🔄 Specialist take-back
Opticians collect old glasses for reuse charities — never bin them.
Most high-street opticians (Specsavers, Boots, Vision Express) have collection boxes for old spectacles, which are graded and redistributed in developing countries via charities like Lions Clubs. Frames and lenses in any condition are useful.
Tips
- Sunglasses and readers count too
Which bin does it go in?
Opticians collect old glasses for reuse charities — never bin them.
Background: What goes in each household bin?.
Also searched as: eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?