Scarborough Spectacles Project
Spectacles collected by Lions Clubs International are processed through a structured recycling and redistribution system. Unwanted and used spectacles are gathered by local Lions Clubs across the UK and other European countries, usually through collection bins located at opticians, chemists, surgeries and shops.
In Scarborough Lions we have 14 collection points for instance that account for approximately 5000 spectacles collected in a year. Lion Chrissie does a fabulous job in this respect. These donations are then sent to a central recycling centre at Lions Clubs International Headquarters in Birmingham.
At these centres, the spectacles are sorted by Lions members and volunteers. Usable pairs are separated from broken or unsuitable ones. Bifocals are typically rejected, and frames with gold are sent for a metal extraction to raise funds for sight related charities.
The usable spectacles are then packed and shipped to Medico France in Le Harvre, a charity established by Lions Clubs in France. Medico France performs final cleaning, grading and preparation of the spectacles for distribution.
The sorted and graded spectacles are sent to Lions Clubs and partner organisations in developing countries, where they are distributed through eye camps and other sight projects in regions such as Africa, India, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. These donations often provide first time vision correction for children and adults, enabling them to read, attend school, work and care for their families.
Spectacles that are damaged or unusable are recycled for scrap materials. Plastic and metal components are separated and sold to manufacturers for reuse in new products, including additional spectacles. The revenue generated from this recycling supports the sorting operations and funds additional eye-related charitable projects in the UK and overseas.