Wellington Eye Centre Sustainability | How We Reduce Waste & Support the Environment

At the Wellington Eye Centre, we care about more than just clear vision — sustainability matters too. Single‑use materials are essential for keeping our patients safe, but we are constantly looking for more ways to minimise our environmental impact. Every day, our team makes conscious choices that help reduce waste, recycle more effectively, and protect the environment we all share.

Helping You See Clearly — And Helping the Planet

We believe that doing the right thing for our patients should also mean doing the right thing for our planet. Here’s how we’re making a difference every day.

Recycling PPE, Masks, Gloves & Contact Lens Waste with TerraCycle

Standard kerbside recycling can’t handle many medical items, so we partner with TerraCycle Zero Waste Boxes™ to give these materials a second life. We collect and send items such as:

• Gloves
• Face masks
• PPE – like hairnets and shoe covers
• Contact lenses and blister packs

Once full, we seal the box and ship it to TerraCycle. Their team sorts, cleans, and transforms the materials into reusable resources, such as:

• Outdoor furniture and decking
• Plastic shipping pallets
• Watering cans
• Storage containers and bins
• Tubes for construction use
• Flooring tiles, playground surface covers
• Athletic fields

This approach keeps a significant amount of waste out of landfills and turns them into something useful.

Giving Your Glasses a Second Life through the Lions Recycle for Sight Program

The best part about having laser eye surgery is finally throwing your glasses away! Instead of putting old glasses in the bin, patients can donate them to our Lions Club recycling box. The Lions Club partners with charities such as Unite For Sight to refurbish glasses and send them to communities in need, including Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, and Nepal. For more information, visit their website here.

Recyclable Paper Post‑Operative Bags

We switched from plastic or laminated post-operative bags to fully recyclable paper bags. This small change reduces plastic waste and makes recycling easier for our patients once they get home.

Powered by Renewable Energy — Thanks to Meridian

We’re proud to be powered by Meridian Energy, a provider that generates electricity from 100% renewable resources including hydro and wind. This choice helps lower our carbon footprint and support New Zealand’s clean‑energy future.

Soft Plastic Recycling Through Local Supermarkets

Many medical supplies arrive wrapped in soft plastics, and we don’t want any of it going straight to landfill. Our staff gather soft plastics and drop them off at supermarkets that support the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme. These plastics then enter a dedicated recycling stream that turns them into new products.

Recycling in Our Staff Kitchen

Sustainability doesn’t only happen in our clinical spaces — it shows up in our everyday habits. In our staff kitchen, we separate paper, cardboard, cans, and approved plastics. These simple daily actions help us cut down on unnecessary waste and build a workplace culture that values the environment

Why Sustainability Matters to Us

• Better choices in healthcare reduces environmental impact.
• Recycling PPE and medical waste helps keep landfill levels lower.
• Using renewable energy reduces carbon emissions.
• Donated glasses help people in need access better vision.
• We show that healthcare and sustainability can work together.
• Every step — big or small — contributes to a healthier planet.

Our Ongoing Environmental Goals

Sustainability isn’t a one-time project — it’s an ongoing commitment. We are committed to making decisions that benefit both our patients and our environment.

Thank you for choosing a clinic that cares about your vision — and the world we all share.

Thank you Megan!

A big thank you to our Senior Ophthalmic Technician, Megan! Megan played a large role in researching and implementing new recycling programs, such as TerraCycle and the Lions Recycle for Sight Program. We appreciate you!