Millions of people use glasses daily either due to eye problems or to match their stylish outfits. Many eyeglasses, including frames and lenses, are made from plastic.
After some time, people might get bored of wearing the same eyeglasses and prefer to buy new ones after dumping their old ones. However, throwing away plastic glasses is not a good idea as it can be dangerous to the environment.
Environmentalists, governments, and associations are concerned about plastic trash since plastics are thrown out in non-environmentally friendly methods.
As a result, they cause contamination in water bodies, overburden the trash dumps, and lead to ecological damage. Due to that, plastic recycling is essential for environmental improvement and to enhance waste management treatments.
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What Type Of Plastic Glasses Are Recyclable?
Make sure to check out nomadeyewear.co.uk to acquire recyclable plastic sunglasses. You have to remember that only a few forms of plastic glasses are primarily collected and recycled. Other plastic eyeglasses are also recyclable, but they may need more particular action than the regularly collected plastics.
As of now, many plastic varieties are collected and recycled because of environmental regulations and advances in recycling processes, which are likely to enhance further in the upcoming years.
Plastic resin codes are numbers that instantly identify the sort of plastic a product is made of. The numbers go from 1 to 7.
The following are the most typically recycled plastics. Thus, if your plastic glasses have any of the below numbers, it is possible to recycle them.
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(1) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
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(2) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
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(5) Polypropylene (PP)
There are some plastics that are somewhat recyclable (at expert facilities). If your eyeglasses are made from the below material, then it is possible to recycle them, but only at expert and advanced centers:
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(3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
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(4) Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
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(6) Polystyrene (PS)
Due to their superior sorting facilities and unique connections with recycling centers, some companies can recycle more plastic varieties than others. They accept a wide variety of plastics, such as:
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ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
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Polyethylene
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Nylons
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Polystyrene
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Polycarbonate
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Acetal
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Acrylic
What Plastic Glasses Cannot Be Recycled?
If the resin code is less, there is a high possibility for the plastic type to be easily recycled. Several forms of plastic can be recycled, even if the method is not widely used. However, there are numerous plastics that can not be recycled since they are difficult to recycle.
The way plastics are created can affect their recyclability. In general, thermoset plastics encompass polymers that structure irreversible chemical connections and cannot be recycled. However, thermoplastics can be melted again and remolded.
If your plastic glasses are made from composite plastics, bioplastics, plastic-coated wrapping paper, or polycarbonate, it is not possible to recycle them as they are non-recyclable plastics. Cling film and blister packing are examples of non-recyclable polymers.
Why It Is Vital To Recycle Plastic Glasses And Other Plastic Waste
Several organizations, including waste management companies and governments, retain a zero waste to landfill policy. It encourages people to use more environmentally friendly disposal techniques.
Recycling any item, if possible, is crucial for the environment, but recycling plastic offers unique advantages.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to biodegrade, and some types take up to 1000 years, which implies that it uses up more landfill area and contaminates the environment.
Furthermore, since plastic is created from oil, if more plastic is recycled, less plastic will be made from raw materials, which means more oil is preserved.
Not all environmentally acceptable disposal options work with plastic. For instance, not all forms of plastic are extensively recyclable. In addition, generating energy from incineration is not feasible since burning plastics emits hazardous pollutants.
Plastics are filtered prior to being recycled as per their resin type. The sorting of plastics can be done manually or by automated methods, or by color. After sorting, there are two primary techniques to recycle plastic..
Mechanical recycling involves washing, grinding, and melting plastic. Meanwhile, chemical recycling means breaking down the plastic into monomers to create recent polymers that can be used again.
What You Should Do With Old Plastic Eyeglasses
If your plastic glasses can not be recycled, you can make use of them in other ways to reduce plastic waste. Here we have listed the best alternative and creative uses of plastic eyeglasses.
Reuse
It is a viable option, primarily if you lack the financial resources to replace your old glasses. If your eyeglasses are shattered or damaged, you can stop reusing them. Other than those exceptions, it is better to reuse your eyeglasses.
Reusing them eliminates the need to recycle them if your glasses can not be recycled. There are plenty of guides on the Internet which will help you fix the broken glasses as well. If you want to keep your frames, but the lenses are damaged, it is better to get new ones in place of old lenses.
Sell Them
If you want to get some money and do not want to use the old plastic glasses, then make sure to sell them. If they are in a good working condition, you can sell them readily either online or to your friends.
Donate For A Good Cause
Your old spectacles can always be donated to charity. You only need to give them off at the charity department. Please make sure that your glasses are still in a working condition before giving them.
Use As Accessories For Costumes
You can turn your old eyeglasses into a necklace, stone, or daily wear jewelry. In addition to that, if you have large plastic frames, you can use them while dressing up for a unique party like Halloween.
Bottom Line
With the above information, it is clear that not all plastic eyeglasses can be recycled. If you want to determine whether your plastic glasses are recycled or not, it is better to check the resin code, which will help you know from which type of plastic your glasses are made.
