Thread: Disposal of used blades.

I've just this very day ordered myself a Merkur 34c HD and a variety pack of blades. I will be using it for a few weeks to a month to get used to it, but then mostly sticking to using my straights.
What I want to know is, how the heck you safely dispose of the worn out DE blades? Yes you can chuck 'em in the bin, but used or not, those things are still bloody sharp. You wouldn't want one of them cutting through the garbage bag and slicing your leg for your troubles. And just throwing them straight into the kerbside bin as they are, could lead to one not making the leap into the disposal truck and landing in the grass just waiting for some unwary person to find with their feet (we have many bare footed children in the neighbourhood). So what is the best way to get rid of them? Sorry if it seems a silly question or if I come across as a full on safety freak. I'm just trying to find out the most responsible way of disposal.


Mick

I have that exact DE and its a great little razor IMO, good choice..!

I use Gillette DE blades and they come in a little waxy envelope that you open to get the blade out. All I do is pop the old blade in the envelope and wrap it in a couple of bits of loo roll then bin it. No problems so far and SWMBO's not cut herself on them by accident, which is the main thing.

As long as you wrap the blades enough that the edges are kept away from prying hands so anyone else using the bin or the binmen dont get slashed, you should be fine!

Personna blades that I get come in a plastic holding case that doubles as a used blade box. You can also find small sharps containers at most places that sell diabetic supplies. The other option is to use an old laundry detergent bottle as well since they are made of thick plastic and the opening is wide enough to drop a blade in and then recap.

Here we separate metal, glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and electric waste (batteries and light bulbs) from general waste. It is easy to throw used DE's into metal garbage box.

In the old days many homes had just a slot in the wall and people threw them in there where they just accumulated over the years. Many blades come in a plastic case with provision for old blades or you can get a cheap blade bank or yes, put them in the wrappings new razors come in.

Gentlemen:

I have what our good friend Thebigspendur refers to as a "blade bank" for disposing used blades. This coffin of sorts has a slot on top for disposing the blades. Various shaving sites sell it at around $1. I would say it probably holds about 100 used blades, more possibly.

In previous years I also have deposited the used blades in an empty loose tea can and crimped the lid before disposing.

Regards,
Obie

If your blade packaging doesn't have a slot for the used blades, you could cut a slot in an aluminum soda can, and put the used ones in there.
That's what we used to do with our X-acto blades at the drafting firm I used to work for.

I have occasionally taken a tip from the antique shops who use cellophane tape to wrap the edges of knives and razors. Mostly though I utilize the techniques mentioned.

-G

I seem to remember my father throwing them onto the red hot coal in the fireplace.

another good idea is to get a cool looking piggybank.. it's decorative and safe.