Blade Disposal - What's Best?

[scoran]

There's a great thread going on about the various ways folks dispose of their blades - some wrap 'em and chuck 'em, others re-purpose piggy banks, those with old-fashioned medicine cabinets use the handy blade slot to drop them back behind the drywall. Best are the self-made disposal units - you could have a photo gallery on these alone.

I'm looking for answers on two things:

1. Is it wrong to simply re-wrap and throw in the garbage? If so, why?

2. For folks with self-made, reusable disposal units, how do you get rid of all those blades when your container is full? Doesn't that present a hazard?

Inquiring minds would like to know...

 

[VerbaVolant]

I have been through a series of blade banks and the latest one I am using now is just a simple plastic tuck that can hold around 50 blades (unwrapped blades of course). That would be six months to one year worth of blades. Very small, inconspicuous and safe to dispose of when full and sealed. I saved several Feather plastic tucks and can use them for many years.

I have to mention that my kids are older and I don't have to hide anything shave related anymore. Those times have passed for me but if you have someone with little hands, curious and mischievous, better consider a proper blade disposal system.

 

[dpm802]

I had one of those tin blade banks that some vendors give away with a purchase. It took me about 2 years to fill it up. I still have it, it makes a nice thunka-thunka sound when I shake it back and forth, to remind me of all the fun I had filling it up.

Now, I'm using a 2oz glass bottle from instant espresso. When its full, I'll just screw the cap on, and start another one.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

$1 blade bank from WCS. Cheap, simple, and I've still not come close to filling it. With kids and a wife a home I don't like the idea of unsecured old blades.

 

[Mick]

Out of sight.... Out of mind

 

[Z blade]

B]I just discovered the blade slot in my old medicine cabinet![/B][/COLOR]

 

[ThePatrician]

Wrapping and tossing may work in the short run, but it still has to be handled by other people, either on the trash trucks or at the recycling centers. Given rust and corrosion issues, I am leery about making people unwittingly handle super-sharp rusted blades.

For people fortunate enough to have slots in their medicine cabinets, companies that do old-home renovations are aware of these slots and know what likely awaits them when they tear open a wall.

Disposing of blade banks is easy as falling off a log: lay the bank on its side and tap it with a hammer, sealing it shut, or give it a light stomp to crimp it shut. Chuck it in the recycling bin, and you're off to the races.

 

[Toothpick]

The short answer is do what ever you feel is best.

This topic seems to be as subjective as what blade gives the best shaves.

my answer is a $1.00 blade bank from WCS, beat the opening closed with a hammer when full and toss it in the trash or recycle bin.

 

[dcobranchi]

I use an old soup can with a slot cut in the lid. 100% recyclable.

 

[luvmysuper]

I know you had hoped that this thread would give you specific answers to your questions, but it has simply turned into an extension of this one;

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/334983-DE-Blade-Disposal?p=5137511#post5137511

Unless we start getting specific answers to your questions, I'd expect a thread merge here shortly.

 

[Toothpick]

here are some specific answers that might help.

A Sharps container: http://www.sharpscontainers.org/disposing_of_sharps_containers.html

they are pretty inexpensive. around 7-20 bucks. They will be immediately recognized as hazardous. I believe the website even says not to toss them in the trash as the plastic can break open from the trash compactors.

Then use this website to search by state how to legally dispose of your medical waste (razor blades)

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/programs.htm

 

[Mike H]

I'm looking for answers on two things:

1. Is it wrong to simply re-wrap and throw in the garbage? If so, why?

2. For folks with self-made, reusable disposal units, how do you get rid of all those blades when your container is full? Doesn't that present a hazard?

1. On more than one occasion, I, or my children have reached into the trash to retrieve a piece of paper, a note, an earring, or some other object my fastidious compulsive cleaning bride has thrown out. I do not want to risk having one of my kids cutting themselves due to my inattention. Risk to the sanitation workers is limited since, for the most part, they do not manually handle the trash.

2. A reusable blade disposal bank, IMO, only increases the risk, since blades must be handled twice.

 

[ShaverGN]

I use an empty plastic 50 piece gum container.

 

[jpakstis]

A few blade containers, like Feathers and Personnas, have a disposal slot built into the housing. Otherwise those blade banks work really well and take a long, long time to fill up.

 

[major_works]

One idea I've seen somewhere, but haven't yet implemented myself, is to cut a slot in an empty Altoids tin and then seal the lid somehow (tape, probably). That ought to hold quite a few.

Meanwhile, I'm using the used-blade slots in blade dispensers.

 

[xraygun]

I use an old Twinning's loose tea tin with a slot cut in the top. When I take it to recycling i'll put a piece of tape that says, "Razor Blades" on it.

 

[scoran]

OK - I just did a search and there doesn't seem to be a dedicated unit for DE blades. Amazon has a Feather unit for single-edge but not DE.

Would it be an idea to have B&B commission a suitable solution? I'm not into the DYI thing when it doesn't look good on the counter-top.

 

[Toothpick]

OK - I just did a search and there doesn't seem to be a dedicated unit for DE blades. Amazon has a Feather unit for single-edge but not DE.

Would it be an idea to have B&B commission a suitable solution? I'm not into the DYI thing when it doesn't look good on the counter-top.

Take your pick. Search "sharps container". Universally recognized medical waste container. Or "sharp things be inside, look out!"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_7?k=sharps+container&sprefix=Sharps+

 

[scoran]

Take your pick. Search "sharps container". Universally recognized medical waste container. Or "sharp things be inside, look out!"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_7?k=sharps+container&sprefix=Sharps+

Oh, Toothpick... not only do those remind me too much of a doctor's office but they're just plain hideous. There has to be a better option...

 

[scoran]

OK - here's something that could fit nicely inside a medicine cabinet:

http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Vis-Yellow-Recycled-Plastic-BB00209/dp/B00204P9XC
I just ordered one, but still stand by my thought that B&B should offer its own blade bank...