Central Texas to Collect and Recycle Solar Eclipse Glasses Following Event

Austin, Texas residents are preparing for the April 8 eclipse, and the city is ramping up to collect and recycle used eclipse glasses after the event.

Recycling bins have been placed across the city of Austin at viewing events in places like schools, parks, and the UT campus. Once the eclipse comes and goes, viewers are encouraged to drop their special glasses into designated boxes. The glasses will then be donated to Astronomers Without Boarders, who will repurpose the glasses for future eclipse viewing around the world.

“We wanted to make sure that the glasses didn’t just end up in the landfill or become litter,” Jessica Gilzow, nature programs manager for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

 “So, we thought that this would be a great opportunity to take these resources and try to repurpose them through this [Astronomers Without Borders] program so they can go to communities that might not have the same abilities to obtain eclipse glasses.”

Residents of Austin will have little use for the eclipse glasses after the fact since the next total solar eclipse in Central Texas won’t be for another 300 years.

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