Chloe Adams
Churches use candles for liturgical ceremonies, votive services, and devotional acts, which can leave a lot of leftover wax from candle stubs. Recycling church candles is important to reduce waste, minimize environmental impact, and support sustainable worship practices. DM Hay and The Recycled Candle Company are two companies that offer candle recycling services, accepting donations of any type of old candle, including the wax and container. Alternatively, churches can recycle their own candles by melting the wax, preparing it for new use, and creating new candles using moulds and wicks. Proper disposal of devotional candles that have been blessed is also an option, either by burning or burying them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies that recycle church candles | The Recycled Candle Company, DM Hay |
| How to recycle | Separate the wick stubs from the wax, melt the wax, remove any dark spots or other blemishes from the liquid wax, pour the wax into moulds, add new wicks, allow to cool |
| How to dispose of devotional candles | Burn or bury them |
| How to dispose of liturgical items | Burn them, collect the ashes and bury them in a Catholic cemetery or on church grounds |
| How to recycle candle holders | Send disposable metal holders to a local recycling company, clean and store glass or plastic holders for future use |
| How to recycle wax | Donate scrap wax to The Recycled Candle Company |
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What You'll Learn
How to melt wax from church candles
Recycling church candles is a great way to reduce waste and get creative. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to melt wax from church candles:
Preparing the Wax
First, you need to prepare the wax for melting. If you are dealing with mostly-used church candles, start by cleaning off any soot and removing burnt wick pieces. If you want to keep any holy images on the candles, be careful not to damage them during this process.
Melting the Wax
The most popular method for melting wax is the double boiler method. This involves using steam as a heat source to melt the wax. Here are the steps for this method:
- Place a washcloth or a small pot on top of a larger pot filled with water. The cloth will protect the pot and keep the candles from direct contact with the pot's surface.
- Put your church candles into the smaller pot or a heat-resistant bowl/glass bowl.
- Bring the water in the larger pot to a simmer, heating it over medium heat. The wax will gradually melt, with different types having different melting points ranging from 100 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- As the wax melts, use tongs to remove old wicks and toss them out.
- If you are melting wax from candles in glass jars, you can place the jar directly into the water until the wax liquifies.
Alternatively, you can use an oven or a microwave to melt the wax. For the oven method, preheat the oven to its lowest setting, remove any labels or stickers from the candle jar, and place the jar inside. Once the wax is melted, scoop it out. For the microwave method, ensure you are using a microwave-safe container, and heat the wax in short intervals, monitoring the temperature.
Handling and Storing Melted Wax
Melted wax can be very hot, so it is important to take safety precautions. Use oven mitts to handle hot candle jars and always cover your work surface to protect it from spills. You can use paper towels or cardboard to catch any spills and protect your workspace.
Once the wax is melted, you can pour it into heat-resistant molds, such as silicone molds, to create new candles or wax melts. Avoid overfilling to prevent spills. If you don't have molds, you can pour the wax onto a shallow plate or pan and use a plastic knife to spread and texture it before it hardens.
Recycling Options
If you have a large quantity of wax to recycle, consider contacting a company that specializes in candle recycling, such as The Recycled Candle Company. They accept donations of scrap wax and can provide guidance on how to recycle your candles.
Additionally, look out for local collection points in your town or village, as some organizations set up drop-off points for candle recycling.
By following these steps, you can effectively melt wax from church candles and either create new candles or recycle the wax responsibly.
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Preparing the wax for reuse
Next, separate the wick stubs from the wax. Some candles have a metal tab at the bottom, to which the wick is attached. Use a knife or another sharp object to separate the metal tab from the candle. The wick should come free with the metal tab, and these can be discarded. If there is no metal tab, use a knife to slice through the wax and remove the wick.
Now you are ready to melt the wax. Place the wax in a pot with an inch or two of water and heat until melted. Alternatively, you can place the wax in an oven set to a low temperature to melt it. Ensure that you are careful when handling hot wax and that you protect your surfaces and clothing.
Once melted, remove any dark spots or other blemishes from the liquid wax. You can then prepare the wax for its new use. If you are making new candles, pour the wax into moulds and allow it to cool. Insert new wicks while the wax is still soft. If you are saving the wax for craft projects, pour it into storage containers to be melted again when needed. You can add dye to create different colours and use the wax for sculptures, plaques, ornaments, and other decorations.
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How to dispose of candle holders
If you're looking to dispose of candle holders, there are several options available to you. Firstly, it's important to determine if your candle holders are made of glass, metal, or another material. Glass and metal candle holders can often be recycled or repurposed, while other materials may need to be disposed of differently.
For glass candle holders, one option is to repurpose them for other uses. You can clean the holders and use them for storage, as vases, or even as drinking glasses if they are the appropriate size and shape. Alternatively, you can donate them to local crafters or artists who may be able to use them for projects. Some recycling centres may also accept glass candle holders, so checking with your local recycling guidelines is recommended.
Metal candle holders, such as aluminium sustainers from tealights, can also be recycled. These can often be accepted by local recycling companies or scrap metal recyclers. It's important to separate the metal parts from any remaining wax or wicks before recycling.
If your candle holders are made of a different material, such as plastic, you may still be able to repurpose them or donate them to crafters or artists. However, it's important to research the specific recycling guidelines for that material in your area. Some materials may not be widely recyclable, but there may be specialised recycling programmes available.
In addition to recycling, another option for disposing of candle holders is to upcycle them into new decorative items. You can use paint or other decorative techniques to transform the holders into vases, planters, or even candle holders with a fresh new look. Upcycling can give new life to candle holders that may not be accepted by traditional recycling programmes.
Finally, if you are unable to recycle, repurpose, or upcycle your candle holders, you may need to dispose of them as waste. However, before throwing them away, consider reaching out to your local community or posting online to offer them for free to anyone who may want them. This can help extend the life of the items and ensure they are used or repurposed by someone else.
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How to recycle candle wax sustainably
Recycling candle wax is an excellent way to reduce waste and help the environment. Here are some sustainable ways to recycle church candle wax:
Donate to Recycling Companies
Companies like The Recycled Candle Company and DM Hay offer candle recycling services. They accept donations of scrap wax and old candles of any colour, scent, and size, including containerised candles such as tealights and votive lights in glass or metal holders. They will then recycle the wax and give it new life by creating new candles. DM Hay also accepts aluminium sustainers from tealights for recycling. You can send your donations by post or look out for collection points in your town or village.
Recycle at Home
Recycling candle wax at home can be a fun and creative project. Here are the general steps to recycle candle wax and make new candles:
- Clean the candles: Start by gathering your old candles and cleaning off any soot or burnt wick pieces.
- Melt the wax: Place the candles in a pot with an inch or two of water to melt the wax. You can also use a hot air hairdryer to melt the wax, but be careful as it can get very hot.
- Remove the wicks: Once the wax is melted, remove any remnants of wicks and dark spots or blemishes from the liquid wax.
- Prepare the new wick: If you're making new candles, prepare the new wicks by attaching them to a small metal tab at the bottom of the candle.
- Pour the wax: Pour the melted wax into candle moulds or storage containers if you're saving it for later.
- Insert the wick: If you're making new candles, insert the new wicks while the wax is still soft.
- Let it cool: Allow the wax to cool and solidify completely before removing it from the moulds or using the stored wax for your project.
Proper Disposal
If you are unable to recycle your candle wax, there are still ways to dispose of it properly. For blessed candles, the respectful disposal method is to burn them and then bury the ashes on church grounds or in a Catholic cemetery. Alternatively, you can bury the candles directly without burning them to prevent any profane reuse.
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What to do with blessed candles
Blessed candles are a powerful sacramental symbol of faith and devotion. They are often distributed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, celebrated on February 2. If you have received a blessed candle, it is appropriate to leave it in a prominent place in your home or prayer space.
If you are unable to use a blessed candle because of fire codes or because the candle is no longer usable, it is important to dispose of it properly. Catholics are instructed to dispose of old sacramentals in a way that shows reverence. Blessed candles can be burned or buried. If they are burned, the ashes should be buried on church grounds or in a Catholic cemetery. If you are unable to burn or bury the candle yourself, it can be dropped off at the parish office for proper disposal.
In some places, blessed candles are gathered and melted down to create the Easter candle. You can contact your local parish or monastery to see if they participate in this custom.
Alternatively, you can recycle your blessed candles by donating the scrap wax to a company that recycles candles, such as The Recycled Candle Company. They accept donations of any type of old candle, including those in glass containers, and will turn the wax into new candles.
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Frequently asked questions
To recycle church candles yourself, you can melt the wax and pour it into moulds to create new candles. First, clean off any soot and remove burnt wick pieces. Then, place the candles in a pot with an inch or two of water to melt the wax. Remove any remnants of wicks from the hot wax and pour the melted wax into moulds. Insert new wicks while the wax is still soft.
If your church candles have been blessed, the proper way to dispose of them is to burn them and bury the ashes on church grounds or in a Catholic cemetery. If the candles cannot be burned, they should be disassembled or destroyed in a way that prevents any profane reuse and then buried.
There are companies such as DM Hay and The Recycled Candle Company that offer candle recycling services. They will organise and pay for a courier to collect the waste and deliver it to their facility. You will need to pay a contribution towards the recycling cost based on the weight of the waste.
