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Household Waste Disposal
3 Easy Ways to Throw Out Old Knives Safely Download Article Discard, recycle, or donate your dull blades with our guide Co-authored by Mark Spelman and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: April 29, 2024 Fact Checked
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Proper Disposal
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Recycling
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Donating and Selling
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Revitalizing Old Knives
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This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 320,681 times.
If you’re replacing your old kitchen knives, it’s important to get rid of the old ones properly. While you can toss your knives in the regular trash after wrapping them up (we'll describe exactly how to do this below), there are also other ways to recycle and donate your knives too. Keep reading, and we’ll cover the safest ways to get rid of your knives, plus how you can sharpen them if they’re dull.
How to Safely Dispose of Kitchen Knives
Tape newspaper around the blade, and then tape a piece of cardboard around it as well. Put the knives in a cardboard box, and they're safe to put in your trash bin. Alternatively, take the old knives to a waste collection site, a recycling center, or a donation center.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
How to Throw Away Knives Properly
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1 Wrap the knife blades in newspaper and cardboard. Wrap a few layers of newspaper around each knife, and tape it in place. Then, fold a piece of cardboard tightly around the knife. Tape around edges of the cardboard so the knife stays securely inside.[1]XResearch source
If you want to ensure that the blade doesn’t cut through, blunt the blade by rubbing it on a harder surface or sanding it down.
2 Seal the knives in a cardboard box and put it in your trash bin. Place the knives in another box or container, and write “SHARP” on the outside to warn sanitation workers. Toss the container in your trash bin so it’s picked up on the normal collection day.[2]XResearch source
Alternatively, you can take the knives directly to a waste collection site if you don’t want to wait until trash day. Some sites may charge a disposal fee, but it’s usually free if you live in the area.
Some areas have metal knife surrender bins in public areas. While these are normally for turning in weapons, they’re still a safe place to get rid of your kitchen knives. Check local law enforcement websites to see if there are any bins in your area.
You may also take the knives to a police station if you’re worried about someone finding them in your trash. Call the station ahead of time and let them know you’re going to be bringing knives in for safe disposal. If they don’t accept knives, they’ll point you to the proper place to throw it away.
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Recycling Old Knives
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1 Drop the knives off at a local recycling center. While you can’t put your knives into a curbside recycling bin, most areas have recycling plants that accept them. Call the recycling centers in your area and confirm they accept old kitchen knives. If they do, wrap the blades in a few layers of newspaper and cardboard and secure them with tape. Then, drop the knives off at the center.[3]XResearch source
Some recycling centers charge a fee when you take your knives in, either by weight or the number of items.
Look up "recycling center" and the name of your city to find the closest facilities to you.
Recycling your knives ensures the materials get reused rather than put into a landfill.
2 Take your knives to a metal scrap yard to earn extra money. Check online to see if there are any scrap yards in your area and call them to ask if they’ll take your used knives. Bring the blades in to have them assessed and sell them for their value in scrap.
Scrap yards accept any type of metal, but knives made with thicker metal may be more valuable than smaller ones.
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Donating and Selling Knives
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1 Take your knives to a thrift store or community shelter. Thrift stores, charities, and shelters all typically accept kitchen knives, but call ahead of time to find out for sure. Wrap the knives’ blades in newspaper and cardboard and tape them securely to prevent injuries. Place the knives in a clear container and take them to their new home.[4]XResearch source
Look up "thrift stores" or "community center donations" in your area to find out which places will take your knives.
Always wash your knives before giving them away because places may not accept them if they’re not clean.
2 Sell your knives online or at a garage sale. If your old knives are still in good condition, you could make some money by reselling them. Ask people you know first if they need any knives before listing them online to places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If you have other items you want to sell, you may even host a garage sale to sell to members of your community.
If you’re not getting any interest in your knives, check for knife sharpening shops near you. They may sometimes buy old knives to use as spare parts.
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Revitalizing Old Knives
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1 Sharpen your knives at least once a year. If your knives are slipping or struggling to cut through food, it’s time to sharpen them. Run the blade at a 20-degree angle against a whetstone, or press the blade into a knife sharpener and pull it towards you a few times.[5]XResearch source
If you regularly use your knives, then you may need to sharpen them every few months.
Clean your knives with gentle soap and dry them right away to help them maintain their edge.
Try to store your knives on a magnetic strip on your wall to keep the blade the sharpest. If you need to store your knives in a drawer, put blade guards on them.
2 Hone your knife once a week on a honing rod. Hold the honing rod vertically and press the bottom of the blade against it. Pull the knife up and down at a 15- to 20-degree angle to hone the blade. Put the knife on the other side of the rode and repeat the process.[6]XResearch source
Honing your knives keeps the blade’s edge straight so it makes smooth cuts.
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Question Should I put old sharp knives in land fill bins or recycle them? Mark Spelman Construction Professional Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987. Mark Spelman Construction Professional Expert Answer I would recycle them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 17
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Warnings
Never put your knives in the trash unwrapped since you could injure yourself or someone else.[7]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Mark Spelman Construction Professional This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987. This article has been viewed 320,681 times. 4 votes - 75% Co-authors: 9Updated: April 29, 2024 Views: 320,681 Categories: Household Waste Disposal | Cooking Knives and BladesArticle SummaryX
Before disposing your knife, use bubble wrap to safely coat the blade. Then, place the knife in a cardboard box, such as an old shoebox, for additional protection. If you don't have bubble wrap or cardboard, try covering the blade with newspaper or old clothes before putting it in the trash. Instead of throwing the knife in the garbage, contact your local recycling center to find out if they recycle knives or consider donating the knife to a local business, like the Salvation Army. To learn how to contact a professional knife sharpener or how to sell your knife for scrap metal, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Lisa Chadwick
Jul 19, 2016
"Many different options in disposal of old kitchen knives to keep the environment and its people safe. After reading this article I now know how to educate others should this be asked again by someone. I nearly dropped them to police."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Mark Spelman Construction Professional 4 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 9Updated: April 29, 2024 Views: 320,681
Lisa Chadwick
Jul 19, 2016
"Many different options in disposal of old kitchen knives to keep the environment and its people safe. After reading this article I now know how to educate others should this be asked again by someone. I nearly dropped them to police."..." more
Janet Himes
Jun 30, 2018
"Here is my funny story, several years ago, before my I-pad, I decided the best way was to bury them. Imagine the surprise of anyone coming across them one day. I hope no one was injured.Not sure this is a success story!"..." more
Samantha Schon
Mar 9, 2018
"We have a knife set from a family member but don't know what to do with it, since we already have a perfectly good set. I was curious about how to either donate them or dispose of them. This page was very helpful!"..." more
Anonymous
Aug 16, 2016
"This article cleared up my questions on how to dispose of blunt kitchen knives and helped me to be confident in approaching charitable organizations. Also, it's good to know that I am not alone. "..." more
Anonymous
Aug 28, 2019
"Learned something new. No one could give me an answer, and I didn't want anyone to get hurt by just throwing them into the garbage. I will share with others. Thank you."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Discard, recycle, or donate your dull blades with our guide Co-authored by Mark Spelman and Hunter Rising 
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Co-authored by: Mark Spelman Construction Professional This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987. This article has been viewed 320,681 times. 4 votes - 75% Co-authors: 9 Updated: April 29, 2024 Views: 320,681 Categories: Household Waste Disposal | Cooking Knives and Blades Article SummaryX
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1 Wrap the knife blades in newspaper and cardboard. Wrap a few layers of newspaper around each knife, and tape it in place. Then, fold a piece of cardboard tightly around the knife. Tape around edges of the cardboard so the knife stays securely inside.[1] 
2 Seal the knives in a cardboard box and put it in your trash bin. Place the knives in another box or container, and write “SHARP” on the outside to warn sanitation workers. Toss the container in your trash bin so it’s picked up on the normal collection day.[2] 
1 Drop the knives off at a local recycling center. While you can’t put your knives into a curbside recycling bin, most areas have recycling plants that accept them. Call the recycling centers in your area and confirm they accept old kitchen knives. If they do, wrap the blades in a few layers of newspaper and cardboard and secure them with tape. Then, drop the knives off at the center.[3] 
2 Take your knives to a metal scrap yard to earn extra money. Check online to see if there are any scrap yards in your area and call them to ask if they’ll take your used knives. Bring the blades in to have them assessed and sell them for their value in scrap. 
1 Take your knives to a thrift store or community shelter. Thrift stores, charities, and shelters all typically accept kitchen knives, but call ahead of time to find out for sure. Wrap the knives’ blades in newspaper and cardboard and tape them securely to prevent injuries. Place the knives in a clear container and take them to their new home.[4] 
2 Sell your knives online or at a garage sale. If your old knives are still in good condition, you could make some money by reselling them. Ask people you know first if they need any knives before listing them online to places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If you have other items you want to sell, you may even host a garage sale to sell to members of your community. 
1 Sharpen your knives at least once a year. If your knives are slipping or struggling to cut through food, it’s time to sharpen them. Run the blade at a 20-degree angle against a whetstone, or press the blade into a knife sharpener and pull it towards you a few times.[5] 
2 Hone your knife once a week on a honing rod. Hold the honing rod vertically and press the bottom of the blade against it. Pull the knife up and down at a 15- to 20-degree angle to hone the blade. Put the knife on the other side of the rode and repeat the process.[6] 
Mark Spelman Construction Professional Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.