In short: Used razor blades belong in the residual waste – not in the yellow bag and not with scrap metal. Wrap them in paper beforehand or collect them in a sturdy box so that no one gets injured. This applies equally to replacement blades for Gillette Fusion5 and Venus, OneBlade blades, disposable razors, shaver heads, and brush heads. Electrical devices, on the other hand, do not belong in the residual waste.
Why razor blades belong in the residual waste
The yellow bag and the yellow bin are intended for packaging – a used blade is not packaging. Local waste disposal companies therefore classify razor blades as residual waste: The Bodenseekreis district office explicitly lists "razor blades or toothbrushes" under the waste that may be put in the residual waste bin, and the city of Stuttgart lists the razor blade in its waste A-Z under the residual waste bin. Berlin Recycling explains it as follows: Used razor blades are generally disposed of as hygiene products via the residual waste.
How to dispose of blades safely
- Never throw them away loose. An exposed blade in a trash bag is a risk of injury – for you and for anyone who handles the waste later.
- Wrap or pack them. Wrap the blade in paper or put it in a container. This is recommended, for example, by Berlin Recycling – explicitly for shaver heads and blade heads as well.
- Collect instead of throwing away individually. An empty blade box or a small tin with a lid is practical: old replacement blades go inside, and when it is full, you seal it and put it in the residual waste.
What goes where? The overview
| What? | Where? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement blades for manual razors (e.g., for Gillette Fusion5 or Venus) | Residual waste | wrap in paper or collect in a box |
| Replacement blade for Philips OneBlade | Residual waste | blade only – the device is an old electrical appliance (see below) |
| Disposable razors | Residual waste | cover the blade head, e.g., with the protective cap, if available |
| Blades for safety razors | Residual waste | collect in a blade box or tin |
| Shaver heads and foil heads | Residual waste | pack like blades |
| Brush heads and toothbrushes | Residual waste | – |
| Manual razor handle without electronics | Residual waste or recycling center, depending on material | not packaging waste; check your municipality's rules |
| Packaging made of cardboard or paper | Waste paper | – |
| Packaging made of plastic | Yellow bag or yellow bin | recyclables bin in some cities |
| Electric shavers, OneBlade device, electric toothbrush | Recycling center or return to retailer | never in the residual waste |
Electrical devices: off to the recycling center or retailer
An old electric shaver, the OneBlade device, or an electric toothbrush are old electrical appliances. The German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) is clear on this: electrical devices never belong in household trash, packaging waste, bulky waste, or scrap metal. You can hand them in for free at a recycling center. Many stores also take back small devices with a maximum edge length of 25 centimeters for free, even without a new purchase – for example, retailers with at least 400 m² of sales area for electrical appliances as well as food retailers such as discounters, supermarkets, and drugstores with 800 m² of sales area that offer electrical appliances several times a year. Remove batteries and rechargeable batteries beforehand, if possible, and dispose of them separately. ZAK Kempten explicitly warns: electrical devices in the residual waste bin are a fire hazard.
Good to know: Rules may vary depending on your place of residence
How waste is separated is determined by your local disposal company. In some cities, there is a recyclables bin instead of a yellow bag, and some recycling centers accept larger quantities of blades separately. When in doubt, a look at the waste A-Z of your city or district helps.
Less blade waste – here's how
- Replacement blades instead of disposable razors: With a system razor, you only replace the blade head; the handle remains.
- Maintain the blade: Rinse thoroughly, shake dry instead of wiping, and store in a dry place – then it lasts longer. Guidelines can be found in our guide How often should you change the razor blade?
Replacement for the next shave
Once the old blade is disposed of, you need a new one. With us, you will find replacement blades for Gillette Fusion5, replacement blades for Gillette Venus, replacement blades for Philips OneBlade, shaver heads and foil heads for Braun, shaver heads for Philips, and brush heads for Oral-B. Which blade fits your handle is explained in the guide Which blade fits which handle? How to have a great shave itself is shown in the instructions Wet shaving step-by-step. Shipping within Germany is free, and delivery time is generally 1–3 working days.
Frequently asked questions
Can razor blades go in the yellow bag?
No. The yellow bag is intended for packaging. Used blades belong in the residual waste – the plastic packaging in which new blades are delivered, however, belongs in the yellow bag.
Can I put razor blades with scrap metal?
For individual blades from the household, disposal companies generally provide for residual waste. Larger quantities are accepted separately by some recycling centers – ask there beforehand.
Where to put the old razor?
A manual razor handle without electronics is not packaging waste – depending on the material and municipality, it belongs in the residual waste or at the recycling center. Electric shavers and the OneBlade device are old electrical appliances: off to the recycling center or for return to a retailer.
How do I dispose of old brush heads?
Via the residual waste – the Bodenseekreis explicitly mentions toothbrushes in its residual waste list. How often you should change them is in the guide Brush heads for Oral-B; which brush heads are available is in the guide Oral-B brush heads: The differences.
Sources: Bodenseekreis District Office – Residual waste, City of Stuttgart – Waste A-Z "Razor blade", ZAK Kempten – Disposing of razor blades, Berlin Recycling – Disposing of razor blades, German Environment Agency – Correct disposal of old electrical appliances (Status: October 2026).
Note: The information on disposal is general advice; the rules of your local disposal company are authoritative. All mentioned brand names are the property of their respective owners and are only shown to indicate for which devices our products are intended. Our products are replacement products from third-party suppliers.