Press release:
As Monday’s total solar eclipse passed through Western North Carolina, it offered a rare moment for friends and families to collectively enjoy an unique outdoors experience. In the days leading up to the big event, eclipse glasses were the hottest item in town. Now that the event has passed, Diamond Brand Outdoors and Frugal Backpacker are collecting used eclipse glasses and donating them to Astronomers Without Borders and local schools. Donated glasses do not have to be those sold by the stores; they could have been purchased from any retailer.
Eclipse glasses can be dropped off at either of two Diamond Brand Outdoors locations or Frugal Backpacker by Monday, August 28, during regular business hours. In exchange, community members will receive a coupon for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more for each pair of glasses ($5 off any purchase of $20 or more at Frugal Backpacker). Astronomers Without Borders has announced a program to collect the used glasses and distribute them to schools in South American and parts of Asia, which will experience their own eclipses in 2019.
Diamond Brand Outdoors is also working with local school systems interested in used glasses for astronomy activities and experiments.
“Our team got a nice dry run for holiday shoppers with the eclipse. Our phone was ringing off the hook and we saw an increase in traffic as everyone in town was looking to purchase solar eclipse glasses for the celestial event,” explained Chris Bubenik, Marketing Manager for Diamond Brand Outdoors and Frugal Backpacker. “Once it was over, we looked at collecting used glasses to recycle. In the process, we stumbled upon Astronomers Without Borders. We’re local and ‘Adventure is Local’ is our mantra, so we want some of the glasses to go to local schools for astronomy activities and experiments. The discount is a great incentive to put the glasses to good use instead of tossing them in the trash.”
The lenses on eclipse glasses expire after three years, meaning they’re not safe to use when the next solar eclipse moves through eastern Canada, the central United States, and part of Mexico in 2024. Many locals are framing or preserving them as souvenirs of the experience. Paper frames can be recycled, but lenses need to remove. Specialty recyclers like camera stores may accept solar filters for recycling. Glasses with plastic frames are likely not recyclable.
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