Chloe Adams
Glass candle jars can take up to 4,000 years to decompose in a landfill, so it's important to dispose of them properly. While the jars themselves are not usually recyclable, there are several ways to clean out the wax and repurpose the containers. If you're looking to recycle the glass, you'll need to remove any remaining wax and wicks, then take the jar to your local bottle bank or household waste recycling centre. If you're looking to repurpose the jar, you can melt the wax by pouring boiling water into the jar, placing the jar in a bowl of simmering water, or freezing the wax and using a butter knife to pop it out. Once the wax is removed, you can use the jar for storage, decor, or even to make your own candles.
How to discard candle jars
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse candle jars for | Storage, decor, making new candles, storing bulk food items, as a to-go mug, for homemade beauty products |
| Remove wax by | Boiling water, freezing, oven, hairdryer, stovetop method, compostable wax |
| Recycle candle jars by | Taking to a local bottle bank, nearest household waste recycling centre (HWRC), mixed glass recycling bottle bank, or specific colour bottle bank |
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What You'll Learn
Removing wax with boiling water
Removing wax from candle jars using boiling water is a simple process, but it requires caution. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Prepare the candle jar
Before you begin, ensure the candle jar is on a heat-safe surface to avoid damaging your countertop or table. If there is a large amount of wax remaining in the jar, consider slicing it up inside the jar with a butter knife. This will make it easier to remove once it has melted.
Step 2: Pour boiling water into the jar
Fill the candle jar halfway with boiling water. Do not fill it to the brim, as you want to give the wax room to float to the top. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the surface.
Step 3: Let the jar cool
Allow the jar to cool for a few hours. As the water cools, the melted wax will harden and float to the top, making it easy to remove.
Step 4: Remove the wax
Once the wax has hardened, simply pop it out of the jar. Be careful, as the water may spill out as well. You can use a spoon or butter knife to help remove the wax if needed.
Step 5: Remove the wick holder and any residue
If the wick holder does not come off easily, pour a small amount of boiling water over it and try again while the water is still hot. Scrape out any remaining wax residue with a knife or spoon. Finally, wash the jar with soap and warm water to remove any remaining residue.
Now your candle jar is clean and ready to be reused or recycled! Remember to never pour wax down the drain, as it will clog your pipes.
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Removing wax by freezing
Removing wax from candle jars by freezing is a convenient and safe method. It is also a great way to remove wax from multiple candle jars at once.
Firstly, place your candle jars in the freezer for at least three to five hours, preferably overnight for the best results. The wax will freeze, causing it to shrink and loosen from the edges of the jar. You will be left with a large, frozen lump of wax at the bottom of the jar.
Before freezing, you can make small cuts in the wax with a butter knife to help break up the wax and make it easier to remove. Alternatively, you can try turning the jar upside down and letting gravity do its work. If the wax doesn't come out, you can try poking at the middle of it with a spoon or knife and pulling it out.
Once the wax is frozen, use a butter knife to pop out the frozen wax. You can also chip out the wax with a spoon. For any small pieces of wax that remain, use a spoon to gently scrape them off.
Finally, remove any waxy residue by dipping a paper towel into some cooking oil and wiping the inside of the candle jar.
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Removing wax with a hairdryer
Removing wax from candle jars is an important step in recycling candle jars. Glass can take up to 4,000 years to decompose in a landfill, so it is important to recycle candle jars properly.
One way to remove wax from candle jars is by using a hairdryer. Here is a step-by-step guide:
First, place your candle jar on a heat-safe surface, such as a dish towel or a pot holder. This is an important step to protect your surfaces from the heat of the hairdryer and the hot wax. Next, put on an oven mitt to protect your hand from the hot wax. Then, turn on your hairdryer and direct it towards the sides and bottom of the candle jar. Set the hairdryer to a warm or hot setting. The warm air from the hairdryer will help to soften the wax, making it easier to remove.
Once the wax is soft to the touch, use a butter knife to carefully lift or scrape the wax out of the jar. Be gentle to avoid scratching the glass. If needed, you can reheat the wax with the hairdryer to keep it soft while you work. After removing the majority of the wax, there may still be some residue or soot left on the glass. If so, wash the jar with soap and warm water to remove any remaining wax.
Now that the wax has been removed, you can recycle or repurpose your candle jar. It is important to note that candle jars cannot be recycled in your local recycling facility due to the type of glass used. However, some manufacturers partner with companies like TerraCycle to offer recycling programs for their products. Alternatively, you can repurpose your candle jar as storage, decor, or even use it to make new candles.
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Recycling glass candle jars
Glass candle jars are not recyclable in your typical local recycling facility. This is because the glass used in candle jars is chemically different from the food and beverage glass containers handled by a typical recycling facility. However, recycling glass candle jars is important as glass is fully recyclable and can be endlessly recycled with no loss of quality.
Before recycling glass candle jars, you must first separate the wax and wash out the jars. This removes contaminants and increases the chances of recycling. There are three main ways to clean out the wax from your candle jars:
- Boil and melt: Place the candle jar on a heat-safe surface and pour in boiling water, leaving some room at the top. The wax will float to the top and harden as the water cools. Remove the wax and scrape away any remaining bits.
- Freeze it out: Put the candle jar in the freezer overnight. When the wax has frozen, use a butter knife to pop it out. Breaking up the wax beforehand makes it easier to remove.
- Use the hob: Place the candle jar in a bowl of simmering water, ensuring the jar doesn't get dangerously hot. Alternatively, place the candle in a separate pot and slowly pour boiling water around it. Once the wax has melted, pour it into something you're going to throw away. Don't pour the wax down the drain as it will clog your pipes.
Once the wax has been removed, you can recycle your glass candle jars at a local bottle bank or household waste recycling centre (HWRC). You can also upcycle your glass candle jars in various ways, such as using them to make new candles, for storage, or displaying them as decor.
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Reusing candle jars
Boiling Water Method
Place the candle jar on a heat-safe surface and pour boiling water directly into it, leaving some room at the top. The wax will float to the top as the water cools. Once the water has cooled, remove the wax from the top and scrape away any remaining bits from the jar's insides. Finally, wash the jar with soap and water.
Freezer Method
Before placing the candle jar in the freezer, use a butter knife to make cuts in the wax. Leave the jar in the freezer overnight, or until the wax is frozen. Then, use a butter knife to pop out the frozen wax. Breaking up the wax before freezing makes it easier to remove.
Stovetop Method
Place the candle jar in a bowl that is sitting atop a pot of barely simmering water. This will melt the wax, allowing you to pour it out without the jar getting dangerously hot. Alternatively, place the candle in a separate pot and slowly pour boiling water around it, making sure the water doesn't go into the jar itself.
Once the wax has been removed, there are numerous ways to reuse candle jars. Here are some ideas:
- Storage Containers: Use the jars to store bulk food items such as quinoa or rice, or even homemade beauty products.
- Display Pieces: Clean and polish the jars to use as decor or display pieces.
- Drinking Mug: Some jars can be used as to-go mugs or drinking mugs.
- Make Your Own Candles: You can use the cleaned jars to make your own candles. All you need is a wick, natural soy wax, and essential oils.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to remove wax from a candle jar. One way is to boil water in a kettle and pour it into the jar, leaving some room at the top. The wax will float to the top and harden as the water cools. You can then pick out the wax and scrape away any remaining bits. Alternatively, you can place the candle jar in a bowl of simmering water to melt the wax without heating the jar to high temperatures. You can also try freezing the candle jar and using a butter knife to pop out the wax.
Once you have removed the wax from your candle jar, you can recycle it with other glass waste at your local bottle bank or household waste recycling centre (HWRC). Make sure to wash out the jar with soap and water before recycling.
Yes, candle jars can be reused in many different ways. You can use them to make new candles, for storage, or display them as decor.
Leftover candle wax can be reused to top off another candle with a similar scent. You can also try making your own candles using the leftover wax, a wick, and essential oils.
