How can I reuse or recycle glasses cases?
As well as finding a myriad of broken belts while tidying our bedroom the other week, I found an assortment of old spectacle cases dotted around the room too.
Most of the glasses have gone bye-bye – either lost or, in the case of my beloved plastic frames last month, snapped in half – but the cases still linger. I use one case for my spare pair and have another for my sunglasses, but that still leaves me with four empties – hard ones from the opticians, from when I got the glasses in the first place. I obviously will try not to accept any more in the future but what can I do with the ones I’ve got now?
While there are a lot of charities that collect old spectacles for redistribution overseas, those that filter them onto Vision Aid Overseas won’t take the cases – because presumably they use their own branded cases or the like during the redistribution process.
So does anyone know of any charities that specifically ask for old cases? Or have any other suggestions of things to do with them?
(Photo by ppreacher)
I’ve got a charity junk shop near me (Cardiff) called ReCreate which accepts any reusable stuff. I noticed they had loads of glasses cases there before. Any place like that would take them. They would make pretty useful containers for loads of things I imagine…
You could store plasters, germoline etc in them for car trips.
Or if you buy a pack of car bulbs, you usually get about 4 in the pack and only need one – the rest can be stored in one of the hard cases in the glovebox.
Pad the inside top, cover with pretty material – use for a sewing kit, needles and pins in the top; small cards/spools of thread, small scissors, etc in the bottom. Keep in purse, work, car.
Use as a safe stash for spare house/car keys – put in shed – who’s going to look there?
Mini office for your purse or car – pens, stamps, scissors, stapler, paper clips, notebook – all in mini sizes
Tampon/mini pad holder – for those of us who like to keep personal items personal, especially in a desk drawer at work
For the guys – fish hook holder, those odd screws/nails, tie wraps, mini bungee cords
Take them to any local charity that has a thrift store. I haven’t bought a new glasses case in around a decade, because i can always find a cool old one in good shape.
I was thinking that they would perhaps make a good cell phone case. The soft ones could be cut down and sewn. The hard ones perhaps could have some elastic strapping added to the interior to hold down the phone with room enough for a tiny notepad and pen.
I use one of mine as a pencil case
I use one for my hair barrettes.
Decorate the outside with paper collage or fabric, and reuse for the same purpose. Might make a nice holiday gift for a four-eyed friend…
If I were you I would embellish the outside maybe with a collage or buttons & use it instead of wrapping paper for a tiny gift that would fit in. Or also you can use them to hold your rouge a levres or any make up in your purse. it will stay in one place.
The blogger next door!
Could also use for small jewelry items (especially if you’re like me and have too much jewelry for a box).
As mentioned elsewhere, give the boxes/cases to kids to store and keep “stuff” in. They love all sorts of containers. (I did!)
My response would probably be less relevant to the question of reusing and repurposing, but it would still apply to the topic of spectacles cases. I have only one, and that is because each time anyone in my household has glasses made/reframed/repaired, we specifically decline a new/extra glasses case. After all, we only wear one pair at any given time. Either put your new glasses on in the shop itself, or bring your empty case with you to put your glasses in. I prefer the waste minimisation approach.
You can grow tiny plants inside the case.
Store tampons to carry in your purse for concealment.
A child can paint the case as a tomb, make a tiny mummy and place it inside for the school project.
Carry soap in it when you travel.
It would be ideal to store in the car to keep all your loose change in
Use them to store those pesky cables we now have for everything: iPod, iPad, ereaders, etc. Phone chargers are probably too big though.
Soft, thick sunglass cases are perfect for carrying and storing your iPod or other hand-held device.
They make great storage for rotary cutters, that quilters use.
So just take them to any quilt store, and am sure they will be a blessing to whoever needs one.