Can you recycle razors & blades?

Disposable razors are unsortable mixed plastic-and-metal — general waste, with blades wrapped or in a blade bank (an old tin). Terracycle has run razor take-back schemes with Gillette. A metal safety razor with replaceable blades is the zero-waste route: blades collect in a tin then go to scrap metal.

Tips

• Make a 'blade bank' from a tin with a slot — hand it in at the recycling centre when full

Which bin does it go in?

Disposable razors: general waste (wrap blades). Some brands run mail-back schemes.

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: The 10 recycling mistakes that ruin lorry-loads.

Also searched as: disposable razors, razor blades, shavers.