Here's what to do with solar eclipse glasses in Montreal now that the fever dream has faded
All that's left are the memories... and those darned glasses.
A man wearing eclipse glasses looks up to watch 2024 total solar eclipse in Montreal.
Can you believe the eclipse is over? After so much build up, that minute and a half came and went too soon, and it feels like it was just a collective fever dream. All that's left are the memories... well the memories and those darned solar eclipse glasses you scoured the city to find.
If you're not sure what to do with your eclipse glasses now that the big event has ended (after all, you probably won't need them again for another 180 years), allow us to offer you some guidance.
Option 1: Turn them into the Planetarium
Montreal's Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium serves as a collection point for the Astronomers Without Borders solar eclipse glasses recycling campaign.
Astronomers Without Borders has been sending donated used glasses to partners around the world since 2008, bringing free protective glasses to people who might not otherwise have a safe way to experience the eclipse.
The catch is that the glasses must be from one of two manufacturers: American Paper Optics or Rainbow Symphony. According to a Facebook post by Espace pour la vie, which houses the Planetarium, "these are the only two manufacturers recognized by the program for making glasses strong enough to be stored for several years."
Simply bring your glasses to the Planetarium, located at 4801, av. Pierre-De Coubertin, and give them to a Planetarium attendant.
Option 2: Give them to Montreal West's Environmental Action Committee
Montreal West's Environmental Action Committee says it's helping with "collecting used glasses to be distributed at future eclipse events worldwide."
Drop off your leftover glasses at 39, rue Parkside (at the corner of Strathearn). Just look for the bag labeled 'Eclipse glasses here' on the porch and place them inside.
Option 3: Donate them to Eclipse Glasses USA
Online eclipse glasses retailer Eclipse Glasses USA says it will be repurposing used eclipse glasses by shipping them to Latin American schools so children can use them to view the October 2024 annular eclipse that will be seen in Chile and Argentina.
You can mail them to Eclipse Glasses USA directly. The address is posted on Instagram and to the website.
Option 4: Recycle them yourself (especially if damaged)
If your glasses are damaged, don't donate them. If you don't want to keep them, the best thing to do is to put them in the recycling bin. But it's important to note that the lenses are not recyclable.
Pop out the lenses and throw them in the trash. Then recycle the cardboard arms.
Option 5: Keep them!
You can of course just keep your solar eclipse glasses and save them for a future eclipse. A partial eclipse will be visible from Montreal on March 29, 2025. Who knows? You might even be travelling in Europe during the next total solar eclipse, which will be visible from Spain in August 2026.
Alternatively, you could pin them to your bulletin board as a souvenir. Or, if you've always wanted to get into scrapbooking, now would be the time to start.
New options will be added on a rolling basis. Check back for updates.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
