Disposable or cartridge razor swap to Safety razor

Why make the swap

• Why switch to safety razor

  An all-metal handle that lasts for years. Steel blades go in a blade bank.

• What's the concern with disposable or cartridge razor

  Plastic waste and the ongoing cost of cartridges. No health issue.

• General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing or have a health condition.

• Good to know before you buy

  No pressure, a shallow angle of about 30°, and go slowly on knees and ankles. Don’t put loose blades in curbside recycling.

  Vikings Blade 'Odin' safety razor + 5 blades: All-metal handle; the maker says it has no plastic. Comes with 5 blades.

  Astra Platinum DE blades 100 ct: Refill blades for the razor above: 100 standard double-edge blades.

• Sources (3)

  1. AP (via KSL), 2019: US municipal recycling won't take razors and other sharp mixed-material objects; safety-razor blades cost a fraction of a cartridge (opens in a new tab)
  2. City of Ann Arbor A–Z guide: razor blades not accepted in curbside recycling carts; place safely in the trash (opens in a new tab)
  3. Astra Platinum double-edge blades, 100-count listing (price per blade checked 2026-10-10) (opens in a new tab)

  Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.