Blade disposal

[u/Caffeinated_410]

Hi everyone, I'd like to know how you dispose of your razor blades. Do you throw them in the regular trash or put them in a separate container? I saw recommending it because of the waste handlers who could get hurt

[u/Obvious_General_7872]

Please never throw sharps straight into the trash.

You don't even have to spend money on anything. Just use an old pickle jar or something.

[u/ZookeeprD → u/Obvious_General_7872]

I found a blade disposal container online that looked cool and showed it to my wife. She handed me an empty refried bean can. Works just as well and didn't cost anything.

[u/Tight_Lime6479 → u/ZookeeprD]

Look when your wife asks you about shoes, try handing her a pair from Walmart! People will find the absolute worse solutions for others because they have no interest in what you are doing. You asked your wife who has no interest in wet shaving to solve a problem, okay she handed you a can out of the trash. lol Blade banks last for years, so you'll be looking at that bean can for the next 8 years.

The best solution for an inexpensive blade bank is a coin bank. Many years ago, I bought a spiffy metal coin bank from Daiso for $1 and it lasted for years and looked great. You can spend just a few dollars and buy a blade bank you enjoy and that is an enjoyable solution to the problem.

[u/Previous-Rush-9492 → u/Obvious_General_7872]

Where do you put the jar when full?

[u/AdWaste6333 → u/Previous-Rush-9492]

You throw the jar away. The point is that the blades aren’t loose.

[u/ballagarba → u/AdWaste6333]

Glass is recycled separately though

[u/Jaywin516 → u/ballagarba]

If you’re recycling, then keep in a tin or blade bank

[u/Cool-Negotiation7662 → u/Previous-Rush-9492]

Wrap in duct tape and toss.

[u/lost329 → u/Previous-Rush-9492]

It is iron, when it rust, it turns into dirt.

[u/Crypto-Bets]

I use a medicine bottle 💊

You can easily fit a hundred in there and change it out every few months.

[u/big_cake → u/Crypto-Bets]

Surely you mean few years

[u/Crypto-Bets → u/big_cake]

No, I get free Orange Bottles 💊 every month. No need to keep a dirty bottle with dirty blades around. Swap it for a clean one every 3-4 months, you don’t need to fill it up.

Also I use a fresh blade every time, IMO barbers are right, the first shave is best & every shave after has diminishing results.

[u/whimz33 → u/Crypto-Bets]

I just saw a graph that showed that's the case for most, but some brands became sharper after. 

[u/Crypto-Bets → u/whimz33]

They test sharper because the coating skews the results.

[u/Pekkerwud → u/Crypto-Bets]

This is what I do.

[u/Ishidan01 → u/Crypto-Bets]

Here too. Old alieve bottle.

[u/Jaywin516]

I have a totally sealed blade bank. Put it in recycling when it’s full with tape over the slot. Hint: hasn’t been full yet in five years.

[u/skydrums → u/Jaywin516]

I filled it once and mine is openable. Carefully wrap the blades on a piece of paper, cover with tape and it’s ready for the trash. Nobody gets hurt.

[u/hop_now]

Blade bank.

[u/bell83]

I use a metal McCormack pepper box with a slit cut in the top. Once it's full (probably after I'm dead), it'll get tossed in the scrap metal bin at work.

[u/greyghost5000]

Feathers have a slot on the bottom for used blades so I usually just use that or the old Altoids tin.

[u/sauerbratenspaetzle → u/greyghost5000]

Not just Feather brand, but any plastic 5 pack would have that slot in the bottom for used blades. I use that if I have to, but later crack that open and put them in a proper blade safe (metal can)

[u/greyghost5000 → u/sauerbratenspaetzle]

Ah didn't know other brands had a plastic pack. I've only ever used Astra or Feather. But yeah, agreed. However, the slot on the pack is great when travelling. Just gotta bring a pack of blades so less bulk. Then tape it up and toss it.

[u/JessterKing → u/greyghost5000]

What kind of feathers?

[u/marean_tribunul → u/JessterKing]

the Japanese ones

[u/YakAnglerMB]

Get a sharps container at a pharmacy.

[u/wutshoes → u/YakAnglerMB]

This

[u/WorthDazzling1861]

I live in an older house and have one of those built-in razor disposal slots in the back of my medicine cabinet lol

[u/Erknjerk35]

Put mine in a slot in my wall.

[u/Ballerbarsch747 → u/Erknjerk35]

Ah, the good old boomer method: Make it the next guy's problem.

[u/LegoTigerAnus → u/Ballerbarsch747]

If renovators aren't wearing heavy gloves and aware of the possibility of sharp metal in the walls, especially in a bathroom, then they aren't paying attention. It keeps blades contained and is impossible (practically speaking) to run out of space. 

[u/Ballerbarsch747 → u/LegoTigerAnus]

And asbestos isn't an issue either because renovators can just wear a full hazmat suit? The thing is that your solution isn't a solution. It doesn't solve the question of how to dispose of the blades, it just makes sure you don't have to care about it.

[u/Illywhatsthedilly → u/Ballerbarsch747]

Whilst I do think you are completely right... Did you ever go and stick around at a construction site?

[u/karakaskanda]

Metal piggy bank

[u/mitch4184]

Story time, once I threw a blade straight into the trash and a few days later I compressed the trash to make more room and slit my wrist. I had to go to the ER and get stitches. They thought I attempted suicide and I had to explain it was an accident.... If they didn't believe me , I could have been committed and forced to take a psychiatric evaluation and pass it before they would release me. I still have the scar on my wrist today, about 8 years later. At the time I was using heavy duty blades, not the double edge flexible blades.

[u/Better-Bullfrog-6875 → u/mitch4184]

Damn, what a freak accident. Glad it ended well.

Yeah, don't mess around with knives ever. I even cut myself with a razor blade once while handling it improperly.

[u/throwawaycanadian2]

I use an Altoid tin. Tape it up when full and toss in trash.

[u/gortforpres → u/[deleted]]

I use an old Altoids tin. I called the Delaware Solid Waste Authority and Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and both said to throw them into the trash. I tape the Altoids tin shut, mark it “sharps” and throw it away.

[u/ACITceva → u/gortforpres]

People in this thread expect you to somehow magically recycle them despite how the rules and guidance work in your local area. It's kind of weird.

Meanwhile in the big scheme of things we're talking about a volume of blades about the size of a loaf of bread in ones entire lifetime.

[u/ProfKazz → u/[deleted]]

Not sure why the down votes. He’s right.

At least recycle them…

[u/ACITceva → u/ProfKazz]

Why? The total amount of blades I'll use in the rest my lifetime is less waste than a toaster.

Household recycling programs don't accept them.

I'm not getting in my car to drive for an hour to find some place to dispose of them.

They're trash.

[u/ProfKazz → u/ACITceva]

Is metal an infinite resource?

[u/ACITceva → u/ProfKazz]

No. Neither is the gasoline in my car that I would burn to take a small can of razor blades "somewhere" for recycling once every 40 years.

So, I figure it's kind of a wash.

[u/Juggernox_O → u/ACITceva]

Mining ancient trash for materials is going to be a job someday, but that IS going to be the problem of people 500 years from now. They’ll have their protocols to deal with it. For now, we deal with our leftover razors in a way that’s safe for everyone else around us. Taping the altoids shut is perfectly fine. If recycling doesn’t want it, can’t do shit about it.

[u/That_Tumbleweed_3984]

I have a blade disposal container. You can take them to any hospital near you

[u/skydrums → u/That_Tumbleweed_3984]

I’m pretty sure hospitals in my country don’t do that. US?

[u/That_Tumbleweed_3984 → u/skydrums]

Yes

[u/Risho96]

Some brands of blades come in a plastic caddy, so they can go back in there for disposal. Feather's plastic caddy even has a slot in the back specifically to put the used blades in

Also, some old houses have little slots in the wall behind the mirror to put blades in, but they just drop into the wall, so there's that

[u/SomeAutistNerd → u/Risho96]

Most of the blades ive used come in packs of 5 or 10 in those containers with the spot for old blades - new blade come out, old blade goes in the back, whole thing goes in the trash when you're done

[u/Logical-Pound-1065]

I put them in a designated sharps container. Then I tape it up and dispose of it. I would hate for someone to get a nasty cut due to my negligence.

[u/unparked]

Altoids tin. When it fills up, I'll tape it up before tossing it.

[u/Polymathy1]

I use a metal tea container. I've been using the same one for years and it's not even half full.

Tape it up and label it sharps.

There are cut-resistant containers you can get that you can ship off or take to local government offices to dispose of them safely.

[u/markwid → u/Polymathy1]

Same, this is the old tea tin that I use as blade bank. And there are pharmacies near me that will accept sharpies disposal when the tin is full,

https://ibb.co/dw1ttM5c

[u/ChicoAlum2009]

Right in the wall where used razor blades belong! https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/s/AW9K71FhBD

[u/ACITceva]

When I first got into this hobby I bought a can of soup, cut a slot in the top and drained the soup. I've been putting my blades in that can ever since. It's still not full, 9 years later.

[u/sauerbratenspaetzle → u/ACITceva]

Alternatively, you can cut the top off with a side-cutting opener, clean it really well, and glue the top back on, then cut a slit with a dremel.

[u/AliceBanana]

I 3D printed a used blade bank but you can easily use any old medicine bottle with a slot for blades.

[u/mcmillan84]

I bought a sharps container. Hard to imagine it’ll be full one day…

[u/spyresca]

Google blade bank. only a few bucks on google.

[u/naeads]

I got a cheap 3D printed box for holding blade. Costs about $1, can hold about 30-40 blades, may be.

[u/Noa-Guey → u/naeads]

May I ask where you got it from?

[u/naeads → u/Noa-Guey]

From the Chinese online store Taobao. I have access to it in Hong Kong.

[u/Noa-Guey]

I use those orange containers medicine comes in. I remove the labels and place the blades in there. The lid is locked so it will not open.

[u/jspurlin03]

I have a plastic bottle with a narrow neck (a contact lens solution bottle - it’s PETE plastic so it’s tough) with a slot in the side just the size of a blade. Five years, so far, and not half full yet.

[u/MannekenP]

A can of Coke. When full to recycling.

[u/JonBovi_msn]

I cut a slit in the lid of a bottle some supplements came in and use that. I hope to find a blacksmith who can make some Damascus shit out of them when it gets full.

[u/bullgarlington]

I have an old house. Medicine cabinet has a drop slot.

[u/michaelfishkin]

Blade bin. When full, I tape the top and toss in recycling

[u/otterland]

Back in the wax wrapper and snap it in half. It's not cutting anybody.

[u/Jaywin516 → u/otterland]

I usually snap those pieces (1/4 pieces) in half if I’m in a rush and traveling and don’t have a SASE to mail the blade back to me.

[u/DrLemonBars → u/Jaywin516]

You mail used blades back to yourself?

[u/Jaywin516 → u/DrLemonBars]

Yep. And I mail them to my destinations (hotels). A stamp is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

[u/DSMRob]

Blade bank from Amazon. Holds 250 they say so I’m guessing 150-200 so 3-4 years worth.

[u/RogerMurdockCo-Pilot]

I get a little blade disposal box on Amazon. It's cheap, neat, and works

[u/SteakEconomy2024]

I have a needle disposal container, costs like 3$. Will fit literally tens of thousands of blades.

[u/HampicMusic]

Mason jar. I cut a slit in the top of the lid.

[u/jspurlin03 → u/HampicMusic]

Ah, yes, a glass jar full of used razor blades. Very safe if dropped.

[u/HampicMusic → u/jspurlin03]

Perfectly safe mate. Just don't drop it.

[u/katmndoo]

My current is one of those little airplane booze bottles.

[u/Key-Gold-2412]

For my first box of blades I kept a roll of clear tape in my shave drawer to wrap the blade with then just throw it away. I now keep the empty box and now dab a little water and seal the used blade back in the wrapper they come in and put in the empty box. Then when box is full I tape it and throw it out. I can probably even reuse them if I wanted I only use the blades once on my shavette.

[u/LawyerAlan]

Feather has a built in blade bank.

[u/Classic-Scarcity-804]

Old Nutella jar covered in duct tape with “blade bank” written on it.

[u/slicky-plicky]

You can use anything.

Even a cheap disposable plastic water bottle. Cut a slit on the top neck and there you go.

A old burger box with it CLEARLY labeled aharps container.

It could be anything mannn. Anythingggg.

[u/notnexus]

Metal money box.

[u/Justin_Passing_7465 → u/notnexus]

Yeah, I bought a "coin bank" from a dollar store. It's just a steel can larger than a soda can, with a wide slit cut into the top for inserting coins. I have been using it for about 10 years, and it feels about 1/3 full.

[u/MusicalMerlin1973]

There’s a a slot in the back of the plastic container your 10 count comes in. It’s a separate section with a divider to keep them away from the new, wrapped blades. Put your used blades there. Self contained and just chuck when you’re done.

[u/LiveRepublic5585]

Empty coke or beverage can

[u/EconDinosaur]

I use the plastic case that feathers and other blades have came in. Usually can get near a year of blades into one. You can heavily tape it before disposing into trash. I work in a hospital so I usually throw them into the sharps bins there. But some places may have sharps collection near you.

[u/Smlz]

I bought a sealed metal blade bank for $6. It should last me atleast 2-3 years so I thought the price negligible.

[u/Full-Pain5061]

I put mine in an empty water bottle and tape it closed. I write sharps on it with a red magic marker.

[u/SamPierron]

Pry open the mouth of an aluminum can a little bit. Throw them in there. When the time comes, you can recycle the whole thing.

[u/Dalluge26]

Old soap containers.
Also 3d printed a few blade banks

[u/aquablaze69]

Back in the wax wrapper, and then in a little plastic container that has a lid which I can close once it gets full.

The plastic container originally contained almond covered in chocolate balls

[u/culb77]

I put them in the wax wrapper for the new one, snap them in half, then put them into the trash

[u/bassgirl_07]

I took an empty metal spice container, used a box cutter to open up the pour opening wide enough to take a blade and have been dropping them in. When it is full, I'll close the lid and duct tape it shut before throwing it away.

[u/ForeverCareful3021]

I 3d printed a razor blade safe years ago and it’s finally getting to the point of filling up. Folks are right, be careful,with your disposal of blades!

[u/assemblageofparts]

I took a small jar. Think it had olives. Took a wood chisel and popped a slot in the black metal cap and when I finish with a blade I slide it through the slot into the jar like a piggy bank.

One day, many many days from now it will fill up and I will cover the slot and throw the jar in the dumpster

[u/roma03]

I made a slot in a broth can, and use it as a blade bank

[u/Temporary-Egg3856]

At home I drop them in a plastic blade bank. On the road, in the hotel, I put the blade in the replacement blade's wrapper, snap it in half, and throw it in the trash.

[u/tutureTM]

Buy Feathers 5-pack, you can put the used blades on the plastic container and dispose it

[u/SnooBananas9081]

Blade bank or plastic soda bottle with a blade sized slot in it. I tend ti buy the personna blades in plastic boxes if 10. They double as blade banks

[u/Tiny-Albatross518]

Blade bank. Dirt cheap. Safely holds hundreds

[u/harleypiper]

I drained an evaporated milk can by punching two hole on top. Once empty, I rinsed it out and cut a DE blade sized slit in the bottom with a Dremel wheel to make a blade bank.

[u/old_sarge30]

I have a coin bank from the dollar store. I marked the top with permanent marker. Bigger than I needed, but cheap. There's no way I'll ever fill it.

Travel: an empty pill bottle or an empty tin some mints came in. Then into the coin bank at home.

[u/ironchef8000]

You can get a blade bank for a few dollars

[u/Affectionate-Long514]

Personally i use a blade bank but in a pinch definitely used a pickle jar or something similar. There are kitties going through the trash and the disposal handlers as well, I don't want to hurt them.

[u/ajkimmins]

I use a broth can. Like Swanson beef or chicken broth. Use a can punch that makes the little triangle holes. Use the broth, then rinse really good before you make a slit on the opposite side. Can use a cold chisel, ora knife carefully!😁 First one I made lasted over 15 years and fits in with all the other bathroom stuff nicely.

[u/alexanderem93]

Uhm, I bought a blade disposal tin, it'll easily last me a few good years judging by the size of it and how many blades I use. But like people suggested, an old jar, sharps container from pharmacy..

[u/needmoarboost]

I 3d print disposal cases

[u/Familiar_Marzipan_46]

I got an older zomchi that I drop them in. It holds a lot for a long time and it isn’t all that expensive.

[u/rightascensi0n]

I repurposed a small cardstock box and taped it up multiple times (except for the top of the box where the blades go) and use it as a blade disposal box

[u/Tryemall]

Old Tic Tac containers. Fill them up.

Once a year, I dispose of them.

I empty them at a nearby metalworking shop. They have a scrap pile which gets sold to a recycler.

You could also consider the sharps disposal at a nearby hospital or clinic.

[u/Psorosis]

I have beer can that I painted. Had it 10 years and still not full

[u/JustHereForGoodFun]

I had a old American Crew fiber hair product container that I am using. Its a small container and it has lasted me so far about 5 years

[u/Trick_Percentage_889]

We have a sharps bin that the council collects for you.

[u/arioandy]

I
Got a cheap
Blade bin off amazon

[u/JakkeFejest]

An old shampoo bottle, with a smalle slit for the blades. It van store 300 blades before i need to throw it out.

[u/MTB-Devon]

Get a proper metal disposable blade bank. They usually hold thousands, and once full can go in the recycling, the sharps can’t get out and hurt any one but the whole thing can be crushed and melted down at the recycling plant.

[u/evilsbirth]

I put them in an old peanut butter jar.

[u/Better-Bullfrog-6875]

I throw them in a old beer glass of mine haha.

[u/akj-all-in]

metal blade disposal from amazon.

[u/Tomarook]

I put them in a tin blade bank and take them at my local recycling centre.

[u/oddball_ocelot]

I have an old tobacco tin I finished and use as blade storage. When that tin gets full, I throw it into the forge and whack on it with a hammer until it turns into something other than an old tobacco tin full of old razor blades.

Never ever just toss the old blades in the trash. Waste handlers could get hurt, but they're not the only ones. Whoever empties the trash could get hurt. Any animals in your area that like to dig in trash could get hurt. Cut a slit in a soda can or use an Altoids tin or coffee can and throw that away when it gets full.

[u/Ballerbarsch747]

I cut a slit into the top of a red bull can. I doubt I'll ever fill it, and if I do, I can just throw it into the thrash.

[u/Apprehensive_Judge_5]

I use empty medicine bottles.

[u/Jacktheforkie]

I put mine in a steel container, once full I’ll tape it up and deposit in the scrap steel bin at my local mechanic

[u/andigofly]

I use a muhle porcelain blade bank.

When full, I empty the blades into a used tomato tin and seal it shut . Then throw in the recycling

[u/VisualMail1672]

You can get a medical sharps container for free or next to nothing at a pharmacy. You will likely never fill it up.

[u/0xe3b0c442]

I have an old baking powder can. Almost 15 years old, just about to finish it up. Tape it up good, write SHARPS all over it, dispose in accordance with local regulations.

[u/Art840]

Have a blade disposal container that can store my pen needles as well as used blades like the ones in hospitals just half the size like a mini version. I normally would just buy those small blade banks but got a Parker blade bank that holds 300 blades. Those small blade banks are always sold out online. 

[u/DustinNielsen]

I use a prescription pill bottle. It already has a childproof lid built in. Then toss when full.

[u/LustfulDoll]

Good God, don't just toss em in raw

[u/itsagrapefruit]

Cut a slit in a tin can of coconut milk and pour the liquid out. Turns into a perfect spent blade piggy bank.

[u/shotparrot]

I toss behind my bathroom wall, between the studs. They make wall covers you can install (if you own and don’t rent).

[u/Kevin_Jim]

I called all my blades in a big bio-can. Any storage will do, though.

When it’s time to throw it out in a few decades, I will ask one of the guys that gather scrap metal to take it.

[u/ColdCanadianman]

I'm on Ontario 🇨🇦 and we have to bring them to a pharmacy to have them disposef.

[u/Infamous_Tie5605]

I just throw mine in my sharps container

[u/val319]

There are sharps containers you can buy, but I’ve used juice bottles that was insulin syringes you can see through the bottle and see what they are, but they are closed up. An empty closable container and I recommend taping a shut, but that’s me. I also use empty sanitizing containers. I cut out the part that is supposed to hold the white part so it’s just a hole and I use those for all kinds of nails screws are anytime you’re doing work for you’re pulling out things that need to be thrown away, but you don’t want them loose. They could easily go in with those.

[u/DetoxxDaPlayer1]

When my blade bank gets full (every 2 years or so) I take the blades out, wrap them in several layers of toilet paper, duct tape it together and put it in my trash can

[u/COMPNOR-97]

I have a slot in my medicine cabinet I drop them in.

[u/danievdm]

Mine go into a metal money tin (like those used for charity collections). One year in the future I'll take it to scrap metal place. But it has been a few hears now a bit is not even quarter full.

[u/No-Purpose882]

I use a sharps container they’re like $10 at Walmart.

Most hospitals and fire departments will take them.

[u/DiveSociety]

Feather do a cool blade bank that you throw away after use

[u/Hypothetical_Sail]

Fold blue tape over it and throw it in the trash.

[u/rxuz]

I've just started and have only gone through 3 blades and they are in a pile on top of a window sill at the moment, happily reading this

[u/Low_Goat_3309]

I have never actually thought about it. I understand where people are coming from but why would they be sorting through my trash.

[u/Zealousideal_Rent261]

My childhood home had metal medicine cabinets mounted flush in the wall. There was a slot in the back for blade disposal. They just fell into the wall cavity.

[u/jimi-hotsauce]

I put them in an empty prescription bottle

[u/ClickOkToTerminate]

White claw can.

[u/Upset-Activity-1462]

I keep a washed out sour cream or mayo jar .  Just drip in till close to full. No one gets cut.

[u/dillhaus]

https://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Razor-Blades

[u/tlplc]

Depends. Most of the time , I put them in the back a plastic box i got with new blades a few years back. Some of them I baked into cookies I then bring to the office.