MANSFIELD — Ohio won’t experience another total solar eclipse until 2099.
If you don’t anticipate being around to watch, you may be tempted to toss your eclipse glasses in the trash. But solar eclipses are actually quite common, with two to three occurring each year in some part of the world.
According to the American Astronomical Society, ISO 12312-2 compliant solar eclipse glasses can be used indefinitely as long as the filters aren’t scratched, punctured, torn, coming loose from the frame or otherwise damaged.
Several area businesses and organizations are collecting eclipse glasses for reuse or recycling in other communities.
If you want to pay it forward with your old eclipse glasses, we’ve got a list of locations below.
Take your glasses Mansfield/Richland County Public Library
The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library has partnered with the Richland County Solid Waste Authority to collect glasses.
All branches of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library will be accepting eclipse eyewear through the end of the month.
Damaged glasses will be recycled; glasses in good condition will be sent to another state, community engagement coordinator Jessica Ney said.
Local businesses collecting glasses for Astronomers Without Borders
Astronomers Without Borders (AWS) is collecting glasses, vetting them for safety and donating them to communities in the path of future solar eclipses.
According to its website, the organization sent tens of thousands of recycled glasses to South America, Asia and Africa following the 2017 solar eclipse.
Willow Zero Waste has partnered with several area businesses to collect eclipse glasses and send them to AWS.
“There’s a few sustainable/zero waste pages I follow on Instagram and I saw they had posted information about collecting eclipse glasses, so I figured I would do the same,” said Willow Zero Waste founder Eva Wehry.
“I love the idea of giving single use items at least one more use, before they ultimately end up in the landfill.”
Richland County drop off sites include 3rd Cup Tea, Kimmy’s Cucina and Yoga 419. Wehry will be picking glasses up on April 26.
Fig & Oak boutique in Ashland is also a collection site for AWS and will accept glasses through April 30. The shop is located at 100 W. Main Street.