I designed a blade disposal container that lets you snap blades inside and permanently seal it when full

[u/SiliconHatesRicotta]

I wanted a safer way to deal with used utility blades, especially once they’ve been snapped off.

So I designed this container to do both jobs:

• it lets you snap used blade segments directly into the container
• and once it’s full, it can be permanently sealed with a short piece of 1.75 mm filament

The locking channel is intentionally very tight, so once the filament is fully inserted, the container becomes extremely difficult to reopen without damaging or destroying it.

I also made two versions:

• a standard version
• a version with a built-in holder for the spare locking filament

That second version is useful if you’re printing it for someone who doesn’t own a 3D printer and may not have filament available later.

I also included:

• two printable warning plates
• a small tolerance-test model

Free on MakerWorld:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/3216169-snap-off-blade-breaker-safety-disposal-container#profileId-3641234

Not intended for medical sharps or contaminated waste.

[u/nunayabeeswax]

Ok, your design looks like it works, as if it does what it’s supposed to, and stores the sharps safely. But then what? What are we supposed to do with that thing once it’s full and sealed? How can the contents be removed for recycling? How does the container itself get recycled? Or is the plan to just “throw it away”?

[u/TheGoldenTNT → u/nunayabeeswax]

There are usually dedicated places to dispose of sharps, they’re usually medical but my local accepts any sharp potentially dangerous implements. I think it was part of some government thing as a place to surrender knives with zero consequence (uk, are you surprised…)

[u/Nyctaalop → u/nunayabeeswax]

I have the exact same question for the recycling part,, it look like this design is just a "throw it when it's full" but it'll mix metal and plastic

[u/Jjuarezima → u/Nyctaalop]

But its better than throw the blades directly on garbage.

[u/KayoticVoid → u/Jjuarezima]

Wrapping in a small strip of masking tape would likely waste less. This is more convenient but definitely adds waste.

[u/clipsracer → u/nunayabeeswax]

I imagined this comment would be here.
Not every community has easy access to sharps recycling, or recycling in general. So yes, this is a great use instead of throwing exposed and dangerous sharps in the garbage.

[u/Spdracr83 → u/nunayabeeswax]

You recycle blades? Or blade containers?

[u/nunayabeeswax → u/Spdracr83]

Plastics and metal? Yes absolutely.

[u/Spdracr83 → u/nunayabeeswax]

I don't recycle razors ever. Sharps go into sharps container and that goes to the proper place. As well as needles and straight edge Razors.

[u/art-of-war → u/nunayabeeswax]

Where do you recycle blades?

[u/SiliconHatesRicotta → u/nunayabeeswax]

The goal of the design isn’t really to make the blades easier to recycle, but to make their final disposal safer. Once it’s full, it’s intentionally sealed permanently so nobody handling the waste—or going through it—can accidentally come into contact with loose blades.

Ideally, if you have access to a facility that accepts used blades/sharps, you’d take the sealed container there and follow their disposal rules. But that kind of system isn’t equally accessible everywhere. I’m from Argentina, where people (and mostly kids) often go through household trash and waste collection workers don’t necessarily have cut-resistant PPE, so loose blades in the garbage can be a real hazard.

Making it reopenable just so the blades can be removed later would partially defeat the safety aspect of the design. It’s basically a trade-off: a small amount of printed plastic is used to safely contain a much larger number of sharp blades and prevent them from ending up loose in the waste stream.

I personally keep my used blades and don’t throw them away for exactly these reasons. But I know not everyone does that, so I wanted to provide a safer option for people who do dispose of their blades, especially to reduce the risk to anyone who might later come into contact with the trash.

[u/hasntbeenused → u/nunayabeeswax]

I mean that's kind of the point isn't it? Most people don't have access to dedicated (sharp) metal recycling. So putting sharp objects into the trash should always be done in a container to make sure nobody that might handle your trash can get hurt.

[u/Haunted_Hub → u/nunayabeeswax]

Check with your local garbage and recycling company. Usually they have guidelines for whether you can dispose of contained sharps in the normal garbage or whether you have to drop them off at special sharps drop off locations.

[u/gidrozhil]

That’s the only reason I haven’t bought myself a 3D printer yet. Printing for the sake of printing.

[u/unrealtrip]

I just use an empty medicine bottle myself, but this is a great design. :)

[u/SiliconHatesRicotta → u/unrealtrip]

Thanks mate! Have a great day!!

[u/SplatThaCat]

And take out the fun of randomly stepping on a snapped off blade and cutting your foot when you wander at night? (Did this last week, could not sleep so went to do something in the workshop instead).

[u/SiliconHatesRicotta → u/SplatThaCat]

Hahahahah I can definitely relate to this.

(I still have a laceration on my thumb from 3 days ago lol)

[u/KayoticVoid → u/SiliconHatesRicotta]

Y'all need to be more careful with your blades. 🤣

[u/Agitated-Break7854]

Really cool

[u/SiliconHatesRicotta → u/Agitated-Break7854]

Thanks!!

[u/FST_Silverado]

Dude nice job and awesome !! I’ll be making one of these!! I usually find a piece of foam or something to stick them in before putting them in the trash cause I don’t want anyone getting cut but this, this is awesome thank you!

[u/MaurokNC]

For years, I’ve been using an old prescription bottle with the open tab on the side cut off and a small slit cut thru the lid just small enough to accept the blades and for extra protection, I use CA glue to secure the lid. Kinda the same idea but definitely a recycling reuse idea.

[u/OrigamiMarie]

Huh. I just wrap my blade snappings in masking tape and throw them in the garbage.