With the April 8 total solar eclipse in the past, people may wonder what to do with their used eclipse glasses.
Astronomers Without Borders, a nonprofit organization that promotes astronomy education, is collecting "gently-used eclipse-viewing glasses" that will be sent internationally to "underserved communities and schools" to be used for other solar eclipses.
At least two local businesses, The RetroFit and Buffalo Clothing Co., are collecting eclipse glasses to send to AWB. First Church of the Nazarene, 3804 Central Ave., said in a Facebook post that it is accepting used, but undamaged, eclipse glasses at the church office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
"I expect to get 4,000 pairs," Lana Pierce, owner of The RetroFit, said. "I'm already at almost 2,000 in just a few days. It's been crazy."
Pierce said one of her employees told her about the program, and she decided to collect the used eclipse glasses, as well.
"All they ask of me is that I collect them, inspect them, sort them and mail them at my own cost," she said. "Then they take care of all the rest, but anybody can become a donor. They have to understand it takes a lot of work."
The hope is for these glasses to help others observe an eclipse before "they unnecessarily reach landfills," a news release from AWB said.
"Through the enthusiastic support of local libraries, schools, museums, city governments, commercial businesses, and community organizations, collection centers are quickly popping up to ensure that as many glasses as possible are recycled," it said.
Jess Elder, owner of Buffalo Clothing Co., said she wanted to get involved because it would help others.
"I'd like to be able to help out other little kids," she said.
This is the organization's second time using the grassroots initiative.
"This unique resource-sharing project is the second recycling campaign AWB is conducting, having had great success distributing hundreds of thousands of eclipse glasses collected from the 2017 American solar eclipse," the release said.
"Recycled and vetted solar glasses were sent to schools that were in the path of solar eclipses in South America, Africa and Asia over the past seven years.
"This one-of-a-kind program helps to bring eclipse glasses to people who may not otherwise have a safe way to view the eclipse directly. AWB is committed to continue sending glasses to those who need them for outreach and educational programs around the world."
Partners are asked to inspect the donated glasses for major defects before sending them, and they will then be vetted by "trained volunteers to make sure they meet safety certifications, and are not damaged or counterfeit," the release said.
"The cardboard has two pieces with the film in the middle," Pierce said. "I have to make sure there's no breach there, there's no holes, that the (earpieces) are completely intact because some of them were broken. I'm the first set of eyes. They just want me to get the obvious things, and then they do something with them there."
Pierce said glasses should be donated to her by April 23. Elder said she has no set date on when she plans to stop collecting them.
"I'm in no hurry to send them," she said, noting she will likely send any glasses she collects sometime next month.