Disposing of rotary cutter blades
 

You experienced quilters have probably solved this problem long ago, but here is my solution.

Every time I threw away a rotary cutter blade, I would wrap it carefully in paper toweling so my husband or I wouldn't cut ourselves while emptying the trash. Then I found the perfect solution - an empty Ice Breakers mint or candy container. It's the perfect size and the top flips open for easy access. When it's full, I just toss it in the trash. You can buy one in the gum, candy and breath mint section. It would be great for sewing machine needles too.

I just wrap in a piece of scrap paper or cardboard then tape it shut.

I usually put it back in the plastic container that the new ones (at least the olfa brand) come in.

I used to wrap them in a piece of cardboard, tape closed and dispose. But I buy my blades in the 5-pack refills and they come in a round plastic container. Once I used up all the blades in the first pack, I began using the empty containers to put the used blades into for disposal. I mark the container "used blades" (it holds about 7 or 8 used blades), then I just dispose of that, easy peasy and safe!

I put mine ina souvirer mug with a broken handle. I love the mug and could not bear to throw it our. When it's full I will put in empty soup can & seal.

I use these mint containers. When it is full, I tape it shut with packing tape and put it in the regular garbage.

Looks like we think alike!!!

Such clever ideas !

I have a veg. can, used duct tape to cover open end, leaving a slit that I drop my old blades through. I use this for all kinds of sharps, needles, pins, razor blades, anything that may cut or poke through the bag, have had this can for over a year, when it gets full I'll just add one strip of duct tape to seal my slit and toss it, can and all.

I cut up a cereal box or something similar that's heading for the recycling. I make it about 6 inches square, fold it in half, tape the sides with duct tape, slide the old blade in the open end, and tape that shut.

I do this also, when it is full, I take it to work and have the nurse dispose of them in the 'sharps' container.

Great idea.

I use a one pound coffee can with a slit cut in the lid,that is just big enough to put the blade in. Use this can for my used rotary blades, razor blades and extacto blades. When full take can to my pharmacy and they dispose of the can for me.

A sharps container to dispose of used needles works good too.

Good idea! I use a round butter tub. It's nowhere near being full yet. I use a tic tac box for my broken & old needles.

I keep all that stuff in a jar. When it is full, I throw it in the trash. There used to be a slit in the back of my medicine cabinet where you could dispose of used razor blades so they went down inside the wall. I had the cabinet removed a long time ago and the drywall redone but I used to put needles, etc. in there. I don't remember if the opening would have been big enough for a rotary blade.

The cases that they come in will hold more than a few so I keep an old case and put them in there, holding them for my paper roller…..when I have too many I just throw case and all away…….I am always getting new cases with new blades.

I have a tin box that mints came in that I put mine in.

I am the same as Deb, I put them back in the plastic container the 5 pack blades come in, they hold more than 5 blades. Then when I have a Doctor's appointment, I give them to the Nurse for their sharps container. That way they aren't an environmental hazard and get truly disposed of properly.

One would think that with all these used blades there might be a company that would exchange them for new ones. Even if the exchange rate was 5 or 10 to one. Surely some company can re sharpen and sell as such for less money. I save all my used ones and then re sharpen and reuse until they don't re sharpen anymore.

Great ideas!!!!

There is a company that does this!!! http://www.lpsharp.com

I am going to check with my local pharmacy to see if I can bring them in there. They take used needles and dispose of them properly, so maybe something like used blades or bent pins would also be disposed the same way. It's a thought.

As I buy my blades in quantity they come in a small yellow case. When I get an empty one, I label a piece of tape on it "used". When its full, I toss the entire case away. Now that I have a blade sharpener, it takes time to fill the case.

My oldest Daughter, also a quilter. Came up with putting old rotary blades in a round used medicine bottle. That is what we do with ours.
We put old needles and bent straight pins in old medicine bottles also.

I put mine in the plastic case the new one comes out of and throw that right into the recycle. I dont know if can be recycled or not but its worth a try.

I went to Sally's Beauty supply and purchased a plastic container that is slightly larger that the blades. It has a plastic inner lid that snaps on, then a screw on lid. When it gets full, I put super glue on the inner lid and put into the recycle bin with a message that the blades are shape. I contacted our recycle service first, and was told that was the perfect way to dispose of the blades. They send sharp items off to a special recycle place.

great idea. thanks.

Iuse a prescription bottle that is just the right size that the blades fit in. When full, just put in trash. Have another I put needles in, it has a round hole in the top and is great for this.

delma

There is a company - check out this link for the company that will take your used rotary blades and send you new ones in exchange. Before you ask, I don't know how they can do it, but I'm guessing that they use the old blades as basic metal for making new ones.

http://lpsharp.com/3.html

auntpiggielpn answered at the same time I did...must be right.

That is what I do also. I write "Used" with a magic marker on the 5-pack container and fill it with as many used blades as it will hold.

Deb, my solution is similar. My husband is diabetic, so I save containers that have secure lids for all of his sharps and simply add my needles, blades and any other sharp edged disposables.

I also use the yellow container that the new blades come in. I put an X on each used blade with a Sharpie so I know they are the used blade and toss in the garbage when full. I like the idea of the glass jar because then who ever is the lucky person to sort thru the trash can see what he is handling without having to open it up.

I have taken a small water bottle - put the cap on and cut a slot in the side of the bottle. You can put the used blades in the slot - kind of like a piggy bank for "spent" blades. I usually put a strip of duct tape over the slot and toss it in the garbage.

We put ours in empty tuna cans with cat/ dog food lids from Mighty Dollar. tape them shut and mark on them sharps and throw them away.

I'm with you

Rotary Blades
 

Did you know you can send in your old blades for replacements at a minimal cost? It's through L P Sharp Co. They are online and have all the information about sending them in, etc. They take Olfa and generic blades. I tried it and am very pleased with the blades they sent back.

Good idea. I wrap mine in masking tape.

Im an insulin diabetic and I put them in my sharps disposible container.

I have large pill containers from prescriptions and I keep all my used blades in there until it's full and then safely throw it away.
Smaller pill bottles I use for my needles that are broken or not of any use . Reuse and recycle is my motto. I make sure to take the labels off the bottles first though.