Blade disposal

[BigDaddy_05401]

Hi guys (and lurker gals)... didn't know what thread was best for this, so I stuck it here.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend about blade disposal.

And the scary fact was that the blades we dispose of (SE,DE,etc...) may accidentally cut someone at the landfill and I had a thought. Now granted this will vary from place to place, BUT if you find this is how it works in your area, pass it on. Maybe a directory sticky can be made on the forum.

I contacted the local needle exchange we have in town (for drug addicts) and they gaveme a little red box (a sharps box is the "known" term for it) - for free. And seriously guys, this thing will last a lifetime (mine, my sons, maybe even my unborn grand-kids & beyond).

When I want to turn it in, they will give me a new one and properly dispose of the blades to a medical waste disposal site, where medical waste is incinerated. This is US Federal law.

And besides, I think it's a heck of alot safer that just dropping sharp items in the trash.

Just food for thought...

 

[ButtermilkJones]

Very interesting. I use an old 2-liter bottle, and I know that a lot of companies sell boxes for that purpose. According to my father, it wasn't uncommon years ago for medicine cabinets to have small slots in them that led to the space behind the wall for this purpose.

 

[Selous Scout]

I use an old pill bottle with the childproof lid since I have kids. When its full I just toss it in the garbage.

 

[Schemaman]

That's a good tip. I am happy to say I have one of those small slots in my medicine cabinet for blade disposal. I remember looking at it when we first moved and wondering who would use it these days. Since getting into DE shaving a while back the answer is "me!" and now I think it's boss. I don't know if previous owners used it so I don't really know how full it is, but I am digging it for now.

 

[mgoldmann]

I made a blade bank using an empty soda can. I would think that any pharmacy or hospital would be willing to accept sharps for disposal if it came down to it.

Having had an occupational exposure to blood, I can tell you that it can be very scary.

 

[fsturnz]

So I don't have enough used blades to dispose of yet, but now you have me wondering. I've been using an old pill bottle too, but wonder if it's too easily broken during disposal?

 

[BigDaddy_05401]

Only reason this even came up was my son & his friends were here eyeballing the razors & the conversation went to dangerous places & things...(respect the blade) and it dawned on me that we have all been guilty of disposing blades without thinking where they go. And I know my pill bottles are that yellow/brown color and has a recycle symbol on the bottom. If this ended up in a hand-sort facility (I've actually been doing some reading up on the disposal procedures) then they run the risk of a cut. But they do wear gloves...

In other countries (as we are a global community forum) I've seen pictures of kids picking trough trash for things to sell. I would hate to see anyone, much less a kid, get hurt from my not taking the proper precautions. And I know in some countries they ship trash over the borders into other countries.

OK, I'm off the soapbox.

 

[jwilock]

I use an old pill bottle with the childproof lid since I have kids. When its full I just toss it in the garbage.

I've got a big vitamin bottle - held 250 or 300. I've been using it for nearly two years and it's not even half full. I shave only every day and a half or two days, but I never go more than 3 shaves on a blade. At the rate I'm going this thing will last at least another 2 years.

 

[chilliman64]

I use an old moneybox

 

[Lucianus]

My grandfather used a ceramic piggy bank and told us kids that if we ever opened it, we would die poor from starvation Good ol' German grandparents!

Up here in Canada any hospital, doctor office or pharmacy will give you a free sharps container, no questions asked, and accept full ones free as long as they are wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Big box pharmacies (Pharma-Save, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, even Walmart pharmacies) will even do it.

 

[Mick]

I've been throwing them down the slot in the back of the medicine cabinet for almost half a century. Never been cut yet

 

[seanusa]

I use this from WCS

and for $1 it will hold a ton of blades, I have 4 of them and I would be surprised if I need more in the next 10 years

 

[BubblesTGB]

I am going to get the Dremel out and make my own slot in my medicine cabinet. I have one of those new-fangled ones that doesn't come with a slot. It's a "make your own" model.

 

[bosseb]

Just made this one:


It will be easy to dispose of once it is filled!

 

[flashover604]

I use an empty Altoids tin. I super glued it shut then took a heavy knife and cut a slit just under the rolled edge of the lid just big enough to fit a used blade into. It's got that vintage look and should hold quite a few blades. When it's full I can duct tape it, write "Razor Blades" on the duct tape and recycle it.

 

[skleice]

I cut a slit in a tin can. Easy, cheap, and should last a VERY long time.

 

[32t]

What brand of blades are you guys using? I don't use an SE or DE very often but the ones I have bought have a disposal slot in the original container. I figured that in the USA, the land of to many politicians and lawyers, if it wasn't a law the companies would be to afraid of being sued not to do that.

 

[BigDaddy_05401]

I've been throwing them down the slot in the back of the medicine cabinet for almost half a century. Never been cut yet

Just out of shear curiosity, where do they go behind the mirror? Is there a catch box or something to clean up the old ones?

 

[kenac]

i knew about cabinet slots, but you're lucky if you have a house with one. today people like to re-decorate and tend to remove everything "old style". i didnt know about pharmacy giving little box for disposition of used sharp objects, ill ask them for one next time.

Just out of shear curiosity, where do they go behind the mirror? Is there a catch box or something to clean up the old ones?

no, its just a hole directly into the wall.

 

[mdove47]

There is no catch box or anything. They fall right to the floor, between the studs. They gather there, talk about past shaves and just rust away, til someone decides to remodel. Then the remodeler finds them, and very carefully picks them and throws them away, or put them up for auction on ebay where some fool will pay an arm and a leg for vintage blades.