You got hold of eclipse glasses just in time - here's what to do with them now
Solar specs are tricky to recycle because of their lenses, so here are three things to do instead.
On Wednesday, millions of people in mainland Europe witnessed their first total solar eclipse in nearly 25 years. In the UK, some individuals raced against time to secure a pair of eclipse glasses due to shortages. So, what should you do with these useful eye-protectors now that the eclipse has passed?
Dr Renee Tonkin, founder of Science Owl, an environmental education organization, notes that eclipse glasses represent our single-use culture and are difficult to recycle due to their mixed materials. Household recycling bins do not accept them. However, the cardboard frames can be separated and recycled while the lenses prove more challenging.
Dr Tonkin suggests three options for your eclipse glasses. First, you could keep them for future celestial events. The next total solar eclipse will occur on 2 August 2027, visible in southern Spain, northern Africa, and the Arabian peninsula. Dr Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explains that this eclipse will last six minutes and 23 seconds, the longest visible from land since 1991.
Alternatively, you might consider donating your eclipse glasses to schools, libraries, or after-school science clubs. Local astronomical societies also often collect them for future events. Additionally, you can repurpose the glasses for photography. Cut out a square of the solar filter material and attach it to your phone's camera lens to safely capture the Sun's image. However, remember to be cautious about prolonged exposure to the Sun's UV rays, as they can damage your phone's sensors.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
