Recycling Program Has Diverted More than 14,000 Pounds of
Waste From Landfills
LAVAL, Quebec, April 19, 2018 /CNW/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading
global eye health company and wholly owned subsidiary of
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE/TSX: VRX), announced
today that its ONE by ONE Recycling Program, the first contact lens
recycling program of its kind, has recycled nearly 2.5 million used
contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since the program
launched in November 2016, diverting
more than 14,000 pounds of waste from landfills —about the weight
of a small aircraft.1 The program is made possible
through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the
collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer
waste.
"Previously, contact lenses and lens packaging materials were
filtered out at standard recycling centers due to their small
sizes. Since its initiation about 18 months ago, Bausch + Lomb's
ONE by ONE Recycling Program has helped to divert more than 7 tons
of waste from landfills across the United
States by offering a convenient and free way for contact
lens wearers to recycle their used materials," said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO, Valeant.
Available to eye care professionals and their patients across
the U.S., the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program recycles
used contact lens materials into post-consumer products. The
program works by providing participating practices with large
recycling bins to collect used contact lenses, blister packs and
top foil. Once the bins are full, a free shipping label can be
printed from www.BauschRecycles.com, and the used materials can be
mailed to TerraCycle for recycling. Patients can also participate
directly by visiting the program's web site and printing a
complimentary mailing label.
"I am proud to participate in the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE
Recycling Program, which allows my patients the opportunity to be
environmentally responsible in a way that they may have been
unaware of previously," said Gina
Wesley, O.D., Complete Eye Care in Medina, MN. "I recognize the value of this
important initiative as an increasing number of my patients prefer
the convenience of daily disposable contact lenses, but not the
added waste they can create."
In addition, for every qualifying shipment of two pounds or
more, a $1-per-pound donation will be
made to Optometry Giving Sight, the only global fundraising
initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness
and impaired vision by providing eye exams and glasses to those in
need. To date, the program has raised more than $14,000.
To learn more about the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling
Program, how to register for the program and to print free shipping
labels, visit www.BauschRecycles.com.
About Optometry Giving Sight
More than 600 million
people worldwide are blind or vision impaired because they cannot
access eye exams and correction. Optometry Giving Sight
(GivingSight.org) is the only global fundraising initiative that
specifically targets uncorrected refractive error, funding projects
that help train local professionals, establish sustainable vision
centers and deliver eye care where it's needed most.
About TerraCycle
Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., a
world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle
post-consumer waste, ranging from used chip bags to coffee capsules
to cigarette butts. The waste is collected through free, national,
brand-funded recycling programs, as well as various consumer and
government-funded models. The collected waste is reused, upcycled
or recycled into a variety of affordable, sustainable consumer
products and industrial applications. Each year, across 20
countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of
waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the
process. To learn more about TerraCycle, please visit
www.terracycle.com
About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant
Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global
eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting,
enhancing and restoring people's eyesight. Our core businesses
include over-the-counter supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic
pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic
surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops,
manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product
portfolios in the industry, which is available in more than 100
countries.
About Valeant
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International,
Inc. (NYSE/TSX: VRX) is a global company whose mission is to
improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop,
manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device
and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas
of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering
on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to
advancing global health. More information can be found at
www.valeant.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release may
contain forward-looking statements which may generally be
identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects,"
"intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will,"
"believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and
variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon
the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Valeant's most
recent annual or quarterly report and detailed from time to time in
Valeant's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are
incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.
Valeant undertakes no obligation to update any of these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless
required by law.
References
- Based on public data available on the Leonardo AW139 model
helicopter, http://www.leonardocompany.com/en/-/aw139
Biotrue is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or
its affiliates. TerraCycle is a trademark of TerraCycle Inc. All
other product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the
respective owners. © 2018 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
Investor
Contact:
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Media
Contact:
|
Arthur
Shannon
|
Lainie
Keller
|
arthur.shannon@valeant.com
|
lainie.keller@valeant.com
|
(514)
856-3855
|
(908)
927-0617
|
(877) 281-6642 (toll
free)
|
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SOURCE Bausch + Lomb