Recycling reinforced on the radio

Ophthalmic consultant surgeon Professor Sunil Shah has spoken on local radio to highlight a new nationwide recycling scheme that aims to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.

The co-founder of private eye hospital Midland Eye and president of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) featured on Radio WM (95.6) at the weekend in a bid to encourage contact lens wearers to use the new scheme, which was launched by Johnson & Johnson Vision.

As part of the initiative, recycling points will be available in Boots Opticians and independents across the UK. Recycling company TerraCycle will make the used contact lenses and packaging into new products such as outdoor furniture.

Speaking to presenter Mollie Green, Professor Shah said that the war on plastic waste needed to be fought across all walks of life and lots of small initiatives combined can make a significant difference.

“Nearly four million people wear contact lenses across the UK and, when you add up the waste from both contact lenses and their containers, this adds up to a figure of around a kilo per person per year,” he emphasised.