How to Recycle Disposable Razors and Razor Packaging in Australia
Razors are one of the more awkward items in the bathroom waste audit. Disposable plastic razors, razor handles, plastic cartridges, foil-wrapped blades, paper-and-plastic packaging: each part wants to go somewhere different, and very little of it can go in the yellow bin. Here is the practical 2026 guide to how to recycle razor blades in Australia, how to dispose of disposable razors safely, and what BRAD does and does not take in the razor category.
The two problems with recycling razors
Razors fail kerbside recycling for two reasons:
- Mixed materials. A disposable razor is small plastic glued to a thin metal blade, sometimes with a rubber grip and a plastic lubricating strip. Sorting machinery cannot separate that.
- Sharps safety. Loose blades in a recycling bin can injure waste-facility workers. Even when the rest of the razor is technically recyclable, a loose blade makes the whole pile unsafe to handle.
So razor recycling sits in the "needs a specialist program plus a bit of preparation" bucket. Here is how it actually works in Australia.
Safe razor blade disposal: the tin can with a slot
If you use a safety razor (the metal kind that takes replaceable double-edged blades), you already have the most recyclable shave on the market. The blades themselves are 100% steel, which is endlessly recyclable. But you absolutely cannot loose them straight into any bin.
The simplest, oldest trick still works:
- Take an empty tin can (a clean coffee tin, baked-bean tin or formula tin all work).
- Use a sharp knife or tin snips to cut a slot in the lid, just wide enough for a blade to slide through. Re-fix the lid with tape.
- Each time you change a blade, drop it through the slot. The blade is now safely contained.
- When the tin is full, tape it shut completely. Take it to a council scrap metal collection or pop it in your kerbside yellow bin if your council accepts steel cans (most do). Some councils prefer you take blade tins to a community recycling centre or transfer station. Check via Recycling Near You for your area.
A tin with the lid taped shut is recognised by waste-facility workers as a sharps container. A loose handful of blades in the yellow bin is not.
Disposable razors: what to do with the whole razor
Disposable razors are a single piece (handle and blade fused together). You cannot easily separate the blade safely, so the cleanest option is to:
- Pop the razor into a small sharps container, a thick taped envelope, or a milk bottle with the lid screwed on tight.
- Mark it clearly and put it in the red landfill bin.
It is not a perfect outcome, but it is the safe one. The longer-term fix is to switch away from disposables (more on that below).
What BRAD does and does not accept on razors
BRAD's razor policy changed in early 2024. Here is the current 2026 position:
- BRAD accepts: razor packaging only. The cardboard box, the plastic blister-style cartridge sleeve, and the small plastic clip-on cap that some cartridges ship with. Pop these in your BRAD box alongside other hard-to-recycle items.
- BRAD does not accept: loose blades, cartridge heads with blades still inside, whole disposable razors, or safety razor handles. Cartridge heads contain enclosed blades that pose a sharps risk to our sorters, so we cannot process them safely.
For everything BRAD cannot take, use the tin-can-with-a-slot method above, or check the TerraCycle Zero Waste Box program, which sells a paid razor-recycling box that accepts the full assembly.
Recycle razor packaging through BRAD
Cardboard outer boxes, plastic cartridge sleeves and clip-on caps all fit in a BRAD box alongside blister packs, toothbrushes, cosmetics and 70+ other items. Loose blades and cartridge heads belong in a sealed tin (see above), not in BRAD.
The cleaner fix: switch to a safety razor
A good safety razor is a lifetime purchase. The handle lasts decades, the blades are pure steel and infinitely recyclable through the tin method above, and you avoid the plastic disposable cycle entirely. Banish stocks vetted Australian-made and Australian-stocked safety razors that we have tested against our sustainability credentials.
If you are nervous about switching, the trick is to take it slow. Most safety razor users say the first three shaves feel different, then it becomes the most comfortable shave they have ever had. You will save money inside a year compared to most cartridge systems.
Browse safety razors at Banish
Frequently asked questions
How do I recycle razor blades in Australia?
Used razor blades should never go loose into any bin. The standard method is to collect them in a sealed tin can with a slot cut in the lid. Once full, tape the tin shut and place it in your kerbside steel-can recycling (if your council accepts it) or take it to a community recycling centre. Check Recycling Near You for your council's rules.
Can disposable razors go in the yellow bin?
No. Disposable razors are mixed plastic and metal with an enclosed blade, which makes them both unsortable by recycling machinery and a sharps risk for facility workers. Wrap them securely (a milk bottle with a screwed-on lid works well) and place in your red landfill bin.
Does BRAD accept razors?
BRAD accepts razor packaging only (cardboard boxes, plastic cartridge sleeves, clip-on caps). BRAD does not accept loose blades, cartridge heads with blades still inside, whole disposable razors, or safety razor handles, because they pose a sharps risk to our sorters.
How should I store used blades until I can recycle them?
An empty tin can with a slot cut in the lid is the safest household option. Sit it under the sink, drop a blade in each time you change it, and tape the tin shut once it is full. Never store loose blades in a plastic bag, a paper envelope, or a soft bin liner.
Are safety razors better for the environment than disposables?
Significantly. A safety razor handle is typically a one-time purchase that lasts decades. The replacement blades are 100% recyclable steel, far cheaper than cartridges, and contain no plastic. Most users break even on the cost of the handle within 12 months.
What about electric shaver heads?
Electric shaver heads contain small electronics and a rechargeable battery in the body of the shaver. The shaver itself goes to e-waste (use Officeworks Bring It Back, an Anything-Ewaste collection at your council, or B-cycle for the battery). BRAD does not accept e-waste of any kind.
Can I take razor blades to Bunnings or another scrap metal point?
Some council Community Recycling Centres accept sealed sharps tins as scrap metal. Bunnings does not run a dedicated razor blade program in 2026. The tin-can method, followed by your kerbside or local CRC, is the most reliable route.