How Do I Dispose Of Old Knives?

Your chefs knives will serve you well if looked after properly, but at some point even the finest kitchen knives will be past their prime and need to be thrown away safely. So what is the safest, easiest way to dispose of your old kitchen knives? Disposing of knives or any sharp items can be dangerous, so it's worth avoiding any risks at all costs. You also need to be careful when carrying knives, although working as a chef is a perfectly valid reason to carry them to work every day.

There are many ways to dispose of your old knives safely, some of these can even give you some money back to invest in new knives. Read on to find out more.

How To Dispose Of Chefs Knives

Wrap the knife heavily with paper, bubble wrap, cardboard or styrofoam

This is very important to prevent injury during disposal.

Use tape to secure the wrapping in place

Without tape, there is nothing to stop the packaging falling apart.

If possible, use a cork on the tip of the blade for extra safety

The pointed tip of the blade is especially dangerous and should be handled with care.

Place the wrapped knives in a puncture-proof plastic or metal container. The lid should also be secured with tape.

There's no use putting your knives in a flimsy container that they could cut through easily.

Label the container clearly with ‘Caution: Sharp’

This warning is essential to protect people during refuse collection.

Place the container into your refuse

It's best to place the container at the top of your black wheelie bin, to make the caution label easily visible.

Tip: We would never recommend discarding a knife into general waste without wrapping, but if necessary, the knife edge can be rolled off quite easily with a hammer.

Can Your Knives Be Salvaged?

Before you explore options for disposing of your knife, take a good look at its condition. Is the edge rolled or just slightly blunted? You may be surprised at how effectively a dull edge can be restored. Depending on the severity of the damage, sharpeners, whetstones and steels are available which can bring even the bluntest of knives back to their former glory.

Alternative Methods Of Disposal

Before you wrap your knives and throw them out, first consider a few alternative ways to re-purpose your knives. Your knives may not make the grade in a professional kitchen in their current state, but can still serve a purpose for someone else. You can even walk away with some cash or at least help to recycle the materials.

Also, check the material composition of your knives. This will affect the potential value and if they are suitable for recycling. Most kitchen knives are constructed from martensitic stainless steel. The less degradation the knife has suffered, the higher the value of elements will be such as chromium, nickel and molybdenum. A blade made with a high carbon content such as damascus steel, of which 15N20 or 52100 stainless steel grades are commonly used, is likely to fetch a higher price than one constructed from 420 or 420J grade stainless steel which are both generally considered low end.

Recycle

The recycling option has benefits for everyone. Check with your local recycling centre or civic amenity site first that they can recycle the desired items. Most waste disposal sites include a skip for scrap metal, where you can take blunt knives and other sharp kitchen implements.

Wrap your knives as shown in the steps at the top of the article, and deliver them to your local recycling centre.

Sell

With a long established market for steel scrap, you may be able to command a good price for your old knives if you choose to sell them on. Check with your local shops beforehand if they will buy them, and be careful when carrying them around.

Donate

Check with your local police station if they have a knife amnesty bin, which have been trialled in certain parts of the UK. This may the easiest option for you to part with your knives responsibly.

If you wish to donate knives to your local charity shop, they should be cleaned in warm, soapy water and dried thoroughly to avoid pitting and water marks. Wrap the knives securely as shown in the steps at the top of the article, and take them to the shop in person.

You can also advertise the knives to collect using a website such as Freecycle, but if you choose this option take care to ensure the recipient is over 18 to comply with UK law.

Tip: When preparing your knives for donation, try to avoid using tape on the knife blade as it can be hazardous to remove.

Replacing Your Knives

Of course, when the time comes to part with your knives then there's no better time to invest in a fresh set.

Whether you need a Santoku, cleaver or all round chefs knife, you'll be hard pressed to find a larger selection of knives than Nisbets offer. Browse knife sets, speciality knives, by brand or type to find the best knife for your needs.

Tip: For expert advice on your purchase, read our detailed guide to buying kitchen knives