Tyler Brooks
Candles are a great way to illuminate your space and create a cosy atmosphere, but what happens when they burn out? Properly disposing of candles is essential to maintain a clean environment and minimise their environmental footprint. The disposal process depends on the candle's condition, the materials it's made from, and whether you're disposing of it from your home or a business. This guide will walk you through the steps to properly dispose of your candles and their various components.
How to properly dispose of a candle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of candle | Single-use, traditional, compostable |
| Type of wax | Paraffin, vegetable, animal fat, oil, soy, beeswax, coconut |
| Type of container | Glass, ceramic, tin, plastic |
| Container condition | Clean, free of wax and wick debris |
| Container disposal | Recycle, repurpose, donate, reuse |
| Wax disposal | Compost (if natural wax), melt to make a new candle, throw away in the general waste bin |
| Wick disposal | General waste |
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What You'll Learn
How to remove wax from a jar
To remove wax from a jar, follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure that the wax is cool and dry. If there is still a flame, extinguish it and allow the wax to cool completely—this typically takes around four hours. If you want to speed up the process, you can place the jar in the freezer overnight. Before doing so, use a butter knife to make cuts in the wax, which will help you break it up and remove it once it's frozen.
Next, prepare a designated workspace to minimise any mess. Place an old towel on a flat surface, like your kitchen table or counter, and gather your candles.
Now, it's time to melt the wax. Boil a pot of water and carefully pour it into the candle jar, filling it around three-quarters full. As you pour, the hot water will begin to melt the wax, causing it to slowly rise to the surface. Be very careful during this step, as both the jar and water are now extremely hot.
Let the jar sit and cool down for around four to five hours until the wax solidifies at the top. Then, use a butter knife or a similar tool to gently dislodge the wax from the edges of the jar. If needed, use a heat gun to heat any remaining wax and wipe it away, ensuring the jar is impeccably clean.
Finally, wipe down any lingering residue inside the jar. If your local recycling facilities accept candle jars, you can now recycle them according to the guidelines in your area. Otherwise, consider repurposing the jar or donating it to a thrift store.
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How to clean a candle jar
Cleaning out a candle jar is an important step in candle disposal, and there are several methods to do so effectively. The first step is to remove any remaining wax. One way to do this is to boil water and pour it into the jar, filling it about three-quarters full. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the surface. After a few hours, the wax will solidify at the top, and you can use a butter knife to gently dislodge and remove it from the jar. You may need to use a heat gun to heat any remaining wax and wipe it away, ensuring the jar is impeccably clean.
Another method is to place the candle jar in the freezer overnight. Before freezing, use a butter knife to make cuts in the wax, which will help break it up and make it easier to remove. Once the wax is frozen, it should pop out more easily.
If you want to melt the wax out of the jar without getting the jar itself hot, you can put the candle jar in the oven at 160 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can place the candle jar in a larger container and pour boiling water into it. This will melt the wax, which will float to the top, and you can then pour the wax out of the jar.
After removing the wax, it is important to wipe down the jar to remove any lingering residue or wick debris. You can then reuse the jar or recycle it with other glass waste. However, it is important to note that not all glass is recyclable. The glass used in most candle jars is chemically different from food and beverage glass containers, so it may not be accepted at local recycling centres. Check with your local recycling guidelines to ensure that candle jars can be recycled in your area.
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How to recycle a candle jar
To recycle a candle jar, you must first separate the jar from the remaining wax and wick. There are several ways to do this. One way is to boil water and pour it into the candle jar, filling it about three-quarters full. As you continue to pour the water, it will begin melting the remaining wax, causing it to slowly rise to the surface. Wait for a few hours until the jar cools down and the wax solidifies at the top. Then, use a butter knife to gently dislodge the wax from the edges of the jar. You can also use a heat gun to heat the wax and wipe it away. It is important to ensure that the jar is impeccably clean and free from any residue before recycling.
If the wax is stuck, another method is to try freezing the candle jar, which will allow the wax to shrink and pop out more easily. You can also put the candle in the oven at about 160 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes to melt the wax. Alternatively, you can use a butter knife to make cuts in the wax before putting the candle in the freezer overnight. The carved marks will help you break the wax and remove it more easily.
Once the wax has been removed, wipe down the jar to remove any lingering residue or wick debris. Check if your local recycling facilities accept candle jars and recycle them accordingly. Glass jars are 100% recyclable, but not all glass can be recycled. Most candles are made of borosilicate glass, which is not accepted at most local recycling centres. However, you can take the jar to your local bottle bank or nearest household waste recycling centre (HWRC) to recycle it with other glass waste. For candle jars made from materials other than glass, check your local recycling collections as many plastics can be recycled in your domestic recycling bin.
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How to reuse candle wax
Reusing candle wax is a great way to be environmentally conscious and create new things. Here are some ways to reuse candle wax:
Clean out the wax from the jar
Firstly, separate any remaining wax from the jar or candle holder. To do this, you can boil water and pour it into the jar, filling it about three-quarters full. This will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the surface. Allow the jar to cool for around 4-5 hours until the wax solidifies. Then, use a butter knife or a similar tool to gently remove the wax. Alternatively, you can place the jar in the freezer, which will cause the wax to shrink and pop out easily when removed from the freezer.
Melt the wax
Once you have removed the wax, you can melt it down and reuse it. To do this, place the wax in a small pot and put that pot inside a larger pot filled with water. Bring the water to a simmer to melt the wax. Different types of wax have different melting points, so some waxes may take longer to melt.
Make a new candle
You can use the melted wax to make a new candle. Cut a piece of wicking from your local craft store, ensuring it is 2 inches taller than your votive holder. Knot one end and thread the other end through a wick tab. Then, dip the wicking and tab into the melted wax to coat them. After removing them from the wax, press the tab to the bottom of your holder and rest the skewer on the rim. Pour the melted wax into the votive holder, stopping about half an inch below the rim. Let it stand until it sets, which should take about an hour.
Make wax sachets
You can also use the melted wax to make gift-worthy floral wax sachets.
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How to dispose of candle wicks
To dispose of candle wicks, you must first separate them from the candle wax. This can be done by freezing the candle, which will allow the wax to shrink and pop out more easily. You can also try boiling water and pouring it into the candle jar, filling it about three-quarters full. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the surface. After the wax has solidified, you can use a butter knife to gently dislodge it from the jar, being careful to remove all leftover wax.
Once the wax has been removed, the wick and any remaining wax should be disposed of with your general waste as they cannot be recycled. If your candle is in a glass jar, make sure that it is completely clean and free of any wax residue before recycling it with other glass waste. For candle holders made from materials other than glass, check with your local recycling collections to see if they can be recycled.
If you are unable or unwilling to recycle the candle jar, you can choose to reuse it for a variety of purposes or donate it to a thrift store. Alternatively, you can repurpose the wax for other uses, such as making new candles.
For businesses with large quantities of candle wicks and wax to dispose of, it is recommended to arrange a commercial waste collection through a professional waste management company to ensure proper recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
First, remove any leftover wax. You can do this by freezing the candle jar and popping the wax out, or by pouring boiling water into the jar and letting it melt the wax. Once the wax has solidified again, use a butter knife to gently dislodge it from the edges of the jar. Next, clean out the jar, removing any remaining wax and wick debris. Finally, recycle the jar at your local bottle bank or household waste recycling centre.
Clean out any remaining wax and wick debris, then place the container in the appropriate recycling bin.
Borosilicate glass is not accepted at most local recycling centres. Check with your local centre to see if they accept this type of glass, or consider reusing the container.
Yes, if the candle wax is made with 100% natural wax (soy, beeswax, coconut, etc) and nontoxic fragrances, you can compost the leftover wax.
