Bausch + Lomb announces results of 2-year recycling program

Bausch + Lomb announced that its #ONEbyONE Recycling Program has recycled a combined total of more than 5 million units of used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since the program’s inception in November 2016.

The efforts involved collaboration with waste management and repurposing company Terracycle, and the groups’ efforts led to a diversion of approximately 31,000 pounds of product optometry-related waste from oceans, lakes, steams and landfills, according to a Bausch + Lomb release.

The #ONEbyONE Recycling Program is available to optometrists and their patients in the U.S. Currently, 3,000 eye care professionals’ offices across the country serve as recycling centers at which patients can drop off used contact lenses and related packaging for later recycling by Terracycle. The items are used to make post-consumer products such as picnic tables and park benches.

“It is a reflection of our company-wide commitment to becoming a more sustainable company by reducing our environmental footprint, and we thank all our customers and their patients for their participation,” Bausch + Lomb general manager of vision care, John Ferris, said in the release. “We’ve also been pleased to hear that this program has been a practice builder for many of our customers who find their patients appreciate their concern and attention to how these materials are impacting the environment.”