How To Dispose Of Sewing Needles?

Recycling is a great way to reduce the waste of our valuable commodities. When we are sewing with needles, it is recommended that we change our needles after every project, this way, we gather a lot of needles which we cannot use anymore. But with these old needles, we can create a new project that will earn us some money. We can also pack and dispose of them in a safe garbage can or we can try selling them to the manufacturers and providers.

In this article, we have discussed some methods of packing used sewing needles, different ways to dispose of them, places where we can sell them or donate them, if there are unmanageable where we can seek help, some tips for using old sewing needles, etc. As we go through the article, we will get some detailed insights into of disposing sewing needles which are very important to have a secure workstation for creating new art and craft.

Key Takeaways

• In this article, we have discussed, several methods of packing and reusing sewing needles.
• We have mentioned how to get professional help in this regard.
• We have shared some tips for handling sewing needles.

10 Ways to Dispose of Sewing Needles and Other Parts

Because sewing needles are sharp, you can use them as pins and this will not damage your fabric. if you are using your needles as a tack for paper or wall décor, push them through securely. If your needles are broken, bent, or rusty, it is better to dispose of them. You can also try to replace your sewing machine needle when it is old enough.

1. Packing

If you have blunt, used, or damaged sewing needles, you can place them in an old medicine bottle or a small candy container, such as a tic tac container. If you have bare needles do not trash them because someone might be injured by them. You can also place them in a small container and close their cover with tape. Do not put your bare needles in the bag, cover their pointed heads with cardboard before placing them in sealed bags. Another way is, to collect your needles, tie them with rubber, seal the container with tape, and label it as a “sharp object”.

2. Disposal

You can place your small container inside a garbage bag and make sure this bag is out of reach for pets or children. Do not flush your sharp needle into the toilet and do not throw them in a garbage bag when they are open. But if they are sealed in a labeled container, you can throw them into a trash bag. If you are unsure, you can try to consult your local disposal management. As needles are made of metals, some recycling centers will accept them.

If you have old sewing needles and you don’t want them, it would be difficult for you to get rid of them. When you want to dispose of them, they are so many options available for eco-friendly disposal. For example, if you take your needles to a local scrap metal recycler, they will pay you in cash.

3. Reusing sewing needles

There are a variety of ways to repurpose old sewing needles. If you want to reuse old sewing needles, it will reduce your environmental footprint and create some beautiful handmade items. You can also take them to a local scrap metal recycler, they will give you money in exchange. If your needles are in good condition, you can donate them to local organizations that do crafts and take fabric, and art supplies. Old sewing needles can be reused for craft projects and jewelry pieces.

4. Recycling of sewing needles

As sewing needles are not dangerous as medical needles, it is possible to recycle sewing needles. If you want to recycle, you can try to call a local recycling center. The recycling centers have websites where you can go and search to see their practice with sewing needles. If they tell you they are not recyclable, you can trash them into a garbage bag.

5. Dispose of knitting needles

Some charities or local craft stores take knitting needles as donations, that way, you will be able to get rid of sewing needles. If your needles are not in bad condition, your disposal will be not hazardous. You should keep in mind that the way you are throwing broken needles, you should also dispose of sewing needles the same way. So for that, you have to pack their sharp ends accordingly before putting them in the waste bin. As you live in a community, you know when they are going to do upcycle, you can call various local craft stores, garden centers, etc. for their next projects.

6. Donation

You can donate your old sewing machine along with needles and pins. Many organizations accept donations as their craft supplies for their different projects. You can also donate them to community schools or art schools, where they can use them for education. Before you make donations, make sure all the necessary parts are intact and in good condition.

7. Sell them

If your needles are clean, you can try selling them on eBay or Craiglist, if you are getting a good price, sell them. Sometimes, some sellers from these websites offer free sales, you can also try this if you want to get rid of them quickly.

8. Ask for professional help

If you want to dispose of your old sewing machine safely and efficiently, you can ask the manufacturers who offer professional services for this disposal. These service centers have electronic devices to dispose of these needles in an environmentally responsible way. Some manufacturers or providers may charge a little for their services, so before you drop off, ask for the cost of their service.

9. Disposal of rotary cutting blades

So far, we have discussed how you can dispose of or recycle your old sewing needles and pins. Here we will also discuss how you can dispose of and recycle your old rotary blades.

If you have rotary cutting blades, place them in a container with a cover, and tape the container to close it securely. Make sure your container is made of hard plastic, so that, the sharp edges don’t come out later to poke around and injure others. It is the best practice if you label your container as a “sharp object” to avoid any accidents. You can also look for a nearby shop to see if you could make an exchange for new rotary cutting blades. This is the most affordable way to get rid of old rotary cutting blades if you have to replace them frequently. As your rotary cutting blades are made of metals, try contacting a scrap recycler or any recycling center, since they take in any sharp metal objects, you will be able to dispose of your old sewing needles to them.

10. Recycling old rotary cutting blades

If you have old rotary cutting blades, you can use them for cutting objects, such as paper, and thin plastics for arts and crafts projects. It is difficult to cut fabric with old rotary cutting blades, although, you can use them to cut thin objects, such as papers. You can also grind the sharp edges of rotary cutting blades and create projects, such as wreaths, garlands, small chandeliers, small decoration pieces for Christmas trees, etc. There is a lot that you can do with old rotary cutting blades as your DIY project.

5 Safety Tips to Handle Sewing Needles

When you are handling sewing needles, you have to be very careful. Below we have given some safety tips.

1. If you have protective gloves, wear them before you start working with needles.
2. When you are not using your needles, store them in a secure container.
3. Dispose of your needles safely and properly.
4. While you are working with needles, keep your work area clean.
5. When working with needles, hold them firmly and securely with your fingertips.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Disposal can be more than just throwing your old sewing needles away! Disposing of sewing needles is a crucial part when you have some old sewing needles with you. It is also a difficult process as needles have sharp edges and they poke through the disposed bag. We have discussed that by covering the sharp edges, you can safely dispose of them. If you don’t want to take this kind of risk, you can call the manufacturers who will do this job on your behalf. The other way is, to donate your sewing needles to the local craft store so that they can use them for their projects.