PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The much-hyped solar eclipse passed above cloudy skies in Philadelphia yesterday, but many still enjoyed the celestial show with their patented eclipse glasses.
But now, with the near total eclipse passed and the next comparable one decades away, there are a lot of eclipse glasses that could use new homes.
According to the University of Rochester, the cardboard frames of the eclipse glasses can be reused as long as they structurally hold up. Only the lenses need to be replaced.
There are a couple organizations across the country that help users recycle their eclipse glasses should they not want to keep them as mementos:
Astronomers Without Borders: This California-based nonprofit has sent recycled solar eclipse glasses around the world for eclipse events since 2008. In the Philly region, prescription glasses retailer Warby Parker is the organization’s collection partner for solar eclipse glasses.
Eclipse Glasses USA: This company not only sells five-packs of eclipse glasses, but also runs a donation program that sends recycled glasses to all parts of the world for upcoming eclipse events.
As the current solar eclipse makes its way around the world, its next stop will be Latin America in October. For that, Eclipse Glasses USA is accepting the donation of undamaged eclipse glasses to send to Latin America through Aug. 1. They will be given to school-aged children so they can safely view the eclipse.
Glasses for donation can be sent to the following address —
Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC
P.O. Box 50571
Provo, UT 84605