Disposing of razor blades in a safe and sustainable way
Anyone who appreciates sustainability in everyday life would do well to invest in a DE-Scraper from, for example, MÜHLE. With proper care, these high-quality scrapers will last for decades. Their packaging is made entirely of cardboard and is 100% recyclable - the same applies to the classic DE razor blades in stainless steel. But what about the sharp blades? Can they be recycled? And how do you prevent others from cutting themselves on a used razor blade?
Can razor blades be reused?
Unfortunately, modern razor blades and disposable scrapers still consist of an inseparable combination of plastic and metal, which means that they must always be disposed of in residual or household waste. Recycling is usually not an option here.
The situation is different with double-edged razor blades (DE razor blades) made of stainless steel. This valuable raw material can be recycled relatively easily – you just need to know how. The rule of thumb is as follows: razor blades are allowed never put in recycling containers or bags. Therefore, we recommend collecting the leaves and handing them over to a recycling center or a metal dealer near you. In some regions, there are also special recycling containers for metal, where the leaves, collected in a closed can, can be disposed of.
In addition, selected pharmacies, packaging-free shops and organic food stores offer you the option of handing in the leaves you have collected.
Safe methods of collecting razor blades
There are several ways to collect your used razor blades. A screw-top jar or a tight-fitting metal box can be a quick solution. But we would definitely recommend a long-term solution - namely to buy a so-called blade bank (also called blade collector).
With a leaf bank you can dispose of your leaves in a particularly stylish and safe way. At Proshave we have different Blade Banks, which are made in different sizes and materials.
Like a piggy bank, the container can collect hundreds of used razor blades before it needs to be emptied. Some of them can be emptied easily and safely via an opening at the bottom. To do this, simply open the container, empty the leaves into another container for transport, dispose of them, and the job is done. But there are also blade banks which are 'Disposal'. This means they cannot be opened, but must simply be reused together with the razor blades. Then it doesn't get much easier. However, this also means that you have to buy a new Blade Bank when you have filled one up.
