What happens to electric razors when they stop working or are replaced? They are increasingly popular, creating a waste stream that companies can harvest to reduce the need for mining and make the industry more sustainable. Global sales of these convenient appliances are expected to skyrocket from approximately $11.2 billion in 2022 to an estimated $19.6 billion by 2031.

If your electric razor is essential to your grooming routine, recognize that it comes with an environmental cost. Recycling your razor or the blades can help reduce the growing e-waste crisis, preserve valuable resources, and lighten your impact on the planet. The good news? Recycling programs can prevent these impacts and create a sustainable path forward.

The Environmental Impact of Electric Razors

Electric razors may be small, but their environmental impact is anything but. Whether you have a corded or battery-powered razor or even the handheld options from Gillette, for example, there are benefits to recycling:

Resource Extraction: Electric razors are composed of metals like steel, aluminum, and copper, alongside plastic and electronic components. Mining these materials is energy-intensive, contributing to habitat destruction, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil erosion. Producing just one ton of aluminum generates 11.5 tons of CO₂ emissions.

E-Waste Problem: The world generated over 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2024, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor. Like many small electronics, electric razors often end up in landfills, where their metals and plastics can leach harmful chemicals into soil and water.

Non-Biodegradable Materials: The plastics and components in electric razors can take centuries to decompose, exacerbating the strain on landfill capacity and increasing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.

Why Recycling Electric Razors Matters Now More Than Ever

With sales volumes climbing, the environmental urgency to recycle electric razors is clear. Recycling offers significant benefits:

Reducing the need for raw materials: Recycling metals like aluminum and copper consumes far less energy than mining and processing virgin materials. For example, recycling aluminum saves up to 95% of the energy required for primary production.

Reducing the use of landfills: Recycling prevents reusable materials from taking up limited landfill space, ensuring metals, plastics, and electronic components are reprocessed into new products.

Minimizing Pollution: Proper recycling prevents some components’ hazardous substances, like lead and mercury, from contaminating soil and waterways.

Convenient Recycling Programs for Electric Razors

Some electric razor manufacturers now offer mail-in recycling programs. At the same time, some retailers will accept personal grooming products, making it easier than ever for consumers to recycle responsibly. If your razor still works, consider fixing it or donating it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Don’t send it to the landfill, check out one of these local or mail-in programs offered by the industry:

• Shaver Outlet: Offering a free mail-in program to reduce the release of heavy metals and other toxins in landfills, Shaver Out accepts all brands of rechargeable battery-operated shavers, trimmers, and clippers for people and pets. Ship your old products to: Attn: Recycling Department, Shaver Outlet Inc., 3380 S. Park Ave. Suite 6, Titusville, FL 32780.
• Best Buy: The electronics retailing giant accepts a wide range of devices, including electric razors, for recycling. If you visit a store, take your products to the service desk. Best Buy also offers paid mail-in recycling boxes with prepaid UPS shipping labels in several sizes.
• Gillette: The company’s battery-powered replaceable-blade handles, blades, and packaging can be recycled for free through Terracycle. You must sign up with Terracycle to take advantage of the free shipping services, which accept products from various personal care brands.  
• Panasonic: Not only can you recycle old electric razors and other personal grooming products for free, but Panasonic provides a 30% discount on new purchases for your trouble. Visit the Panasonic recycling page to start your return.
• Philips Norelco: The company participates in recycling programs in select states but no longer provides mail-in recycling, pointing interested customers to MRM Recycling for mail-in recycling services.
• Braun: Braun does not offer mail-in recycling, directing customers to their regional customer service centers for assistance, which isn’t much help.

No Solution? Easy Tips to Recycle Your Razor

If no mail-in program is available for the product, look for local e-waste collection events or drop-off centers (add your ZIP Code to this Earth911 search). You can separate the parts and recycle the batteries locally, as well as the electronics and metal blades for recycling as e-waste and scrap metal, at a drop-off location near you.

The rapid rise in electric razor sales underscores the need for better recycling programs. If just a fraction of the roughly 150 million electric razors sold globally each year were recycled by consumers, we could prevent wasting tons of reusable materials and reduce the demand for energy-intensive resource extraction. With manufacturer programs and local options readily available, taking action has never been easier. Let’s work together to ensure these small devices leave a smaller impact on the planet.