Used cutting blades
 

I have been keeping my used rotary cutter blades in a plastic container, now my question is How do you dispose of them safely?
Is there some place that recycles them?

Hope you don't mind me adding to the question ;)
Anyone tried those blade sharpers? Do they work?

I hope some one knows the answer to the blade sharpeners because I keep mine too.

I put mine in a small box and write dangerous blades and toss it in the garbage. We have had people go through garbage and I would not want anyone to get cut.

I sandwich mine used blades and needles between duct tape and throw away.

I have heard-on here maybe- there is a place you can send your old blades.
As far as the sharpener i have heard good and bad. my DD has one that she is pleased with. She is 1 1/2 hrs from anyplace that sells blades so she has gotten a lot of use from it.

I put mine in a container with old/broken needles then seal it up to throw away

Maybe someone that sells scrap medal would take them. They are getting high price for medal.

I resharpen mine a few times with a little round hand sharpener, not the greatest but helps extend the life. Then when I decide to pitch them, have a CLEAR plastic jelly jar I put them in so they can be seen. Get it full, pitch it, but don't see it getting full in this life times. Maybe a smaller jar.

I resharpen mine a couple of times then put them between cardboard and tape together and throw into the garbage. Putting a caution sign on it might be a good idea.

I wrap mine in several layers of wrapping tape or duct tape and then just throw them in the garbage. Years ago, we lived in a house where the former owner had an opening in the medicine cabinet. He used to place his used safety razor blades there. It was a wonderful solution for HIM.

When we went to redo the bathroom, we ripped out the sheetrock and were faced with a cascade of used razor blades tumbling all over the floor. We had to be very careful with that project.

I keep the plastic containers that the blades come in, I fill it up with used blades and when full, carefully tape it closed and toss it in the trash.

I use the blade sharpener and it works great. Really helps extend the life of the blade! One side is for sharpening and one side is for knicks!

This is what I do. In the mean time, if I need to cut some paper or vinyl flooring or something else, I use one of my old blades to do that kind of work.

I also use the duct tape method - never occurred to me to try to recycle or sharpen them...

I put mine back in the plastic "case" they come in and wrap duct tape or other tape around that and then put in with garbage. I am always afraid though that somehow it might not be safe enough.

I am a nurse, so I take them to work and toss them in the sharps disposal container. Maybe a pharmacy would let you put the blades in their container.

I put mine in a small sour cream container with a slit cut in the top to drop rotary blades , bent straight pins, and dull needles. When full I put the container in the recycle bin with tape across slit and warning written on lid of contents. I have used the rotary blade sharper with success.

i used to replace my old blades in the plastic container they came in- tape it all over with duct tape-and put them in the trash- then i found out that our hardware store would take them ( as part of their recycling program- along with batteries and a few other things that are hard to get rid of.) so now i place them in a tin-with a lid and when i am heading to the hardware for something i take them along- i don't know what they do with them- and don't care-even if they sharpen them & sell them- it's ok with me- i don't have to worry about disposal- or anyone getting hurt.
as for the sharpeners- i've had one for a number of years- to me it was more dangerous than changing them tends to be- i hate it- for me it is worth it to buy new ones- and one of those items i always add to my Christmas list- hubby usually buys me a couple of each size for stocking stuffers. :)

LPSHARP.COM accepts used blades and offers sharp like blades for a reduced price. I have a stack of blades ready to go out in the mail to them. They also offer blades for purchase without sending in old blades.

Thanks, I'm going to try LPSharp. Those blades cost a fortune and other than on sale, the manufacturers have their way about the price they charge.

I have an extra rotary cutter that is marked "for paper only" and I save the used blades for cutting cardboard, poster board, paper, and when the husband needs something cut in the garage (like a mat or rug) I have them ready. You can also trade them in for new ones. The company will give you credit for each blade (like about $3.00) and you pay for a new one (much cheaper than some of the quilting companies) and you are recycling the blades. I will check my notes and see if I can find the url for everyone. Here it is: http://www.lpsharp.com/

You can mail your blades to LP Sharp Company and you can exchange your old blades for new ones - must send at least 5 old blades and you can get new ones for $3.00 a blade. www.lpsharp.com. You can also buy blades for much less then retail even if you do not have trade-in. I have bought from this sight and they work pretty good- the blades you buy are re-sharpend. Check out the web site and they explain how to go about it.

I was real leery about the "True Sharp" Power Rotary Blade Sharpener and finally bought one. Well, I love it. It works so well. Wish I would have bought it sooner. I can make my blades last so much longer. I can tell it will save me $$$ in the long run. I usually have to change my blades out frequently, but now they last such a long time. No more buying a 5 pack. And for getting rid of the used ones...I just stick them back in their original containers and tape them up and throw them out...same as everyone else.

I have 3 - none work
Am told one needs to use before the blades go dull.

I too keep mine in a plastic container.
When it's full I tape it tightly closed and throw in garbage bag.

Couple times a year in Milwaukee we can take our paint and used motor oil and old electronics to a collection point at the fairgrounds. They also accept old medication because they don't want us to flush it. That's the time I get rid of my blades. I just figured they could be recycled.

i have one of those blade sharpeners and i love it i have been using the same blade for the last three months i use it till it starts to dull then i use my sharpener and off i go again good as new. i dont have the electric sharpener just the little manual one but i would not like to have to give it up. its been a money saver for me.

I take my used blades and needles and pins with me when I get my blood drawn and they are kind enough to dispose of them for me.

I'm still saving mine. One of these days, I'll invest in a sharpener.

I have never had much luck with the sharpeners. I tried the L.P. Sharp company and just got my first batch Saturday. They now replace your used ones with new ones. Great price and I feel better knowing the old ones are recycled.

I send mine to LP Sharp and buy new blades from them. Works great for me.

I love my Tru Sharp electric sharpener. Got it from joann.com. If its not on sale you can use a coupon

I have one of those sharpeners that you run your rotary cutter through like a knife sharpener, I guess you'd say. It works for a few times and gets you a lot farther than you'd get w/o it. But I recently found the Titanium blades and they really are longer lasting. You eventually have to sharpen/replace them but it takes a LOT longer to dull them. Then I usually just keep them in the plastic case they came in. I guess I haven't gotten to the point that I had one full yet and had to decide what to do w/it from there. Someday soon I will, I'm sure.

I got one of those sharpeners that you leave the blade in and run it across it. It's read... can't remember the brand. It works AWESOME! I get 10 times the life out of a blade... matter of fact unless it gets really nicked from hitting the ruler or something it seems to last forever.

red, not "read"... ooops... and the brand is TrueCut. Got it from Nancy's Notions.

I have used the blade sharpener, it works okay for a little while. I save the old blades to cut paper, until they no longer cut paper, then take them to the dump.

Check the archives. There was a good discussion on this a few weeks back with the address of the place where you could send your old blades and get new ones terrifically reasonable. I don't have the address, sorry. Maybe someone else will see this and give the address again.

Used machine needles and rotary blades disposal
 

I have a plastic container that I put my used needles /blades into. When I fill it up, I put the container in my reycle bin. It is labeled. If you have a recyling program in your area this is where things like this can be disposed of. In the landfill does no one any good. But recyling does.
jc

I bought one of those orbital sharpeners but did not have any luck with it. I sharpen better running the blade through folded aluminum foil. At first it sounds rough but eventually cuts very well.

I put mine back in an old blade container, and when it's full, I tape it shut- really tape it good - and throw it out. I know some quilters use round containers, like a small Pringles can to put used blades until you can tape it shut and throw it out.