Which Bin Do Razors Go In?
Let’s be honest – it’s easy to run through dozens of razors in a year, especially if you’re hairy.
And while we all know this, we never talk about how to dispose of these essential tools. I mean, can we even recycle them?
Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about in this post.
Can razor blades be recycled?
Yes, razor blades are recyclable. However, they are usually only recyclable in the United States.
Can plastic razors be recycled?
Yes, plastic razors can be recycled. Again, this is usually only possible in the United States.
Can I recycle my Gillette razor blades?
Yes, you can recycle your Gillette razor blades. The brand recently partnered with Terracycle to recycle its razor blades and razor blade heads. This partnership even allows you to recycle other brands of razor blades.
What bin do razors go in?
While razors can be recycled, they shouldn’t be thrown in recycling bins. This is because they can easily harm the people who sort recyclables at recycling facilities. Instead, they should be sent to TerraCycle directly. If you can’t or don’t want to do this, the only option left is for you to throw them in the trash bin.
Before you do this though, you need to wrap them in several folds of paper or cardboard and then secure the wrapping with some tape. This will make it hard for the blades to come free and hurt someone. Keep in mind though – throwing your razors in the trash bin is not good for the environment. It just contributes to the filling of landfills.
How to properly dispose of your old razor?
The best way to dispose of old razors is to recycle them. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Sign up for the Gillette recycling program on the TerraCycle website
- Start collecting your razor blades in a single box. You can collect their plastic packaging as well
- Sign in to your TerraCycle and download a tracking label. You will need to print this and attach it to your box
- Seal your box, attach the label, and send it out for recycling
Remember, you can use any box size you want. Once your box gets to the recycling facility, it will be treated the same way. It will be emptied and the razor blades will be broken down and then separated according to the material.
The plastic elements will then be cleaned and turned into pellets that can be used to create new products.
On the other hand, the metallic elements will be sent somewhere else to be smelted and even converted to new alloys.
How long does it take for a razor blade to decompose?
While the metallic parts of a razor blade can rust within a short time, the plastic parts don’t decompose in any way. Another thing to keep in mind is that the metallic parts of razor blades don’t completely disappear, no matter how much they rust.
So when these products end up in landfills, plastic and metal particles can remain in the soil for years to come.
Can you flush razors?
While your toilet can handle accidentally flushing one razor, it can’t handle flushing several of them. They can end up blocking the piping system. As such, you should never flush a razor deliberately.
What else can you do with razors besides throwing them out?
Apart from recycling or throwing out razors, you can also reuse them in a variety of ways. You can do this by:
1. Using them to remove excessive dirt from surfaces
If the flat surfaces in your home often get excessively dirty, you can use an old razor blade to scrape off the tough dirt before doing your usual clean. To achieve this, all you have to do is glide it over the surface you need to clean.
2. Using them to scrape pans
When you’re trying to clean pans that have pieces of burnt food at the bottom, you can use old razor blades to scrape them off. This can save you both time and energy when doing dishes.
3. Using them to create a camera tripod
By gluing a small tray to 3 razor blade sticks, you can make a tripod to hold your phone and take videos.
Why are razors bad for the environment?
A lot of razors end up in landfills, leading to the accumulation of plastic and metals there. In fact, millions of razors end up in landfills each year, in the United States alone. What particularly makes razors bad for the environment is the fact that they can only be used around 5 times before they need to be replaced.
Final thoughts
If you must use razors, do your best to recycle or reuse them afterward – your planet will thank you for it!