Each year, billions of disposable contact lenses are used and discarded in the U.S. alone. While they offer convenience and clear vision, most people don’t realize that these small items, along with their packaging, aren’t recyclable through standard municipal systems.

Roosevelt Vision is proud to participate in a national contact lens recycling initiative in partnership with TerraCycle® and Bausch + Lomb. This free program is open to all brands of contact lenses, blister packs, and foil lids—making it easy for you to make a positive environmental impact.

The Impact of Disposable Contact Lenses

Disposable contact lenses have revolutionized vision correction, offering comfort, convenience, and clarity. However, their widespread use has created a growing environmental concern. Because contact lenses and their packaging are small and often made of mixed materials, they aren't captured by traditional recycling systems and typically end up in landfills. With billions of lenses discarded each year in the U.S. alone, this daily habit contributes significantly to plastic pollution and long-term environmental waste. As the popularity of disposable lenses continues to rise, so does the need for responsible disposal and sustainable solutions.

How Contact Lens Recycling Works

Participating is simple. Collect your used contact lenses, blister packaging, and foil covers. No need to clean them—just make sure not to include the cardboard box they came in, as that can go in your usual recycling bin.

To make it even easier, many of our patients keep a small waterproof container in their bathroom and drop in the used packaging daily. When it fills up, bring it to our office, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Once our collection bin is full, we ship the contents to TerraCycle. There, the materials are sorted and processed. Metal components are recycled separately, while the plastic materials, including the lenses themselves, are melted down and repurposed into new products—helping close the loop on waste.

Why It Matters

This program isn’t just about keeping waste out of landfills. It’s also about supporting a greater cause. For every 10 pounds of eligible waste collected and sent to TerraCycle, a $1 donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight, a global organization dedicated to providing vision care to those in need.

Join Us in Creating a Greener Future

Every small effort adds up. By choosing to recycle your contact lenses and packaging, you're helping reduce landfill waste and supporting a charitable cause—all at no cost to you.

Ready to start recycling? Bring your used contact lens packaging to Roosevelt Vision at your next appointment, or drop them off anytime during business hours. Visit our office in Seattle, Washington, or call (206) 527-2987 for more information.