Optical Lab Begins New Recycling Program

The SCI Cambridge Springs Correctional Industries Optical Lab continues with its recycling efforts with a new program. Mr. Rentz, Correctional Industries Lab Supervisor, learned of Costa, a Daytona Beach-based sunglasses manufacturer, launching the "Kick Plastic Lens Recycling Program." Costa recognized that the disposal of optical lenses created a large amount of plastic waste being disposed of every year, which takes more than 400 years to decompose. Although just a small portion of the waste is generated at this facility, the Optical Lab wanted to do its part in helping with the recycling efforts and have since started collecting lenses from inmates when they receive new prescriptions. So far, the facility has collected approximately 50 pounds of lenses that will not be going into the U.S. landfills!

Rentz, his staff and the inmate workers are proud of these efforts to help the environment and they will continue to promote the importance of recycling to inmates, giving them the option to donate their old lenses.