Even the bluntest razor blade is a hazard, so all blades need to be disposed of safely.
The good news is that blades from a safety razor (they’re the ones with a single, thin, double edged metal blade) can be recycled in the scrap metal container at a recycling centre, or you can put them in your general waste bin.
But disposable razors are very different. Because they made up of plastic, metal and rubber, they CANNOT be recycled. Cartridge and disposable razors go in your general waste bin.
The simplest – and safest – way to recycle razor blades is to store them in a tin. If you can’t buy a purpose made one, use a normal tin can with a lid and recycle the whole lot.
Razor blades are usually made of stainless steel, which is very recyclable. They can be melted down again with other metals to form alloy ingots to be made into something new.
You can recycle old blades at your local recycling centre if it takes scrap metal. Just throw them in the scrap metal container and that’s job done.
Another way to recycle your used razor blades is with TerraCycle, which has made it its mission to recycle all the difficult items that could end up in landfill.
TerraCycle has teamed up with some big brands to bring their recycling schemes across the country, recycling things such as crisps and nuts packets, pens, and other hard plastics that can’t go in general recycling.
