Bausch + Lomb Corporation is addressing a little-known environmental issue: the waste created by contact lenses and their packaging. Through its ONE by ONE and Biotrue Eye Care Recycling programs, the company has kept over 464,000 pounds of used materials out of landfills and waterways in the United States since 2016.
Contact lenses and their packaging are often too small and made from specialized plastics that standard recycling systems can’t process. Many users unknowingly flush lenses or toss them into the trash, leading to environmental issues like microplastic pollution in oceans and waterways. Each year, an estimated 6 to 10 metric tons of contact lenses end up in U.S. wastewater, harming marine ecosystems and entering the food chain.
Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE Recycling Program collects used lenses, blister packs, and top foils from any brand. Participants can drop these items off at one of nearly 14,000 optometry practices nationwide, which then send the materials to TerraCycle®. The waste is cleaned and turned into hard plastic pellets for new products.
The Biotrue Eye Care Recycling Program, launched in 2021, focuses on eye drop containers, lens cases, and Biotrue-branded bottles. Consumers can mail these items to TerraCycle using pre-paid labels, ensuring proper recycling.
Programs like these reduce waste and raise awareness about the environmental impact of everyday items like contact lenses. As Dr. Jennifer Tsai, an optometrist in New York, explains, “My patients appreciate being able to recycle their used eye health materials in an environmentally responsible way.”
While contact lens waste is a niche issue, Bausch + Lomb’s efforts highlight the importance of corporate responsibility in reducing environmental harm.
