What Do You Do With Old Candles?

With the popularity of scented and decorative candles, many households end up with leftovers and partially-used candles that seem useless. However, throwing away old wax is wasteful and candles contain reusable or recyclable components. Finding creative ways to repurpose and recycle candles reduces waste and saves money.

This guide will provide tips for reusing every part of old candles. From melting wax to make new candles, to turning jars into storage containers, there are many options for giving used candles new life. Read on to learn safe, practical ideas to reuse candle wax, upcycle containers, recycle materials, and more.

Repurpose Candle Wax

One of the easiest ways to repurpose candle wax is by simply melting down the old wax and pouring it into new containers. All you need to do is place the old candle wax in a heat safe container and melt it either in the microwave or on the stove. Make sure you remove any wicks before melting. Once melted, add fragrance or dye if desired. Pour the wax into jars, tins, or other candle containers. Allow the wax to completely cool and harden before using the new candles. This gives old candles new life, and the customized colors and scents make them great gifts!

Upcycle Candle Jars

One of the easiest ways to repurpose old candle jars is to upcycle them into storage containers or decorative pieces. Clean out any remaining wax and wash the jars thoroughly to prep them for reuse.

Empty candle jars are perfectly sized for storing small items like craft supplies, office supplies, sewing notions, jewelry, bookmarks, and more. Make sure to affix labels so you remember what’s inside each jar.

You can also turn candle jars into beautiful decor accents. Spray paint them in any color you like, or decoupage the outside of the jars with scrapbook paper, fabric, ribbons, or other embellishments. Display them on shelves, use as vases, or create pretty lanterns by dropping a battery-operated tealight inside.

Another creative way to upcycle old candle jars is by turning them into pen, pencil, makeup brush, or paint brush holders. Clean jars can hold all sorts of art and office supplies. Personalize them with paint, decorations, and labels for fun storage that doubles as desk decor.

Donate Old Candles

If you have candles that are gently used but still have plenty of wax remaining, consider donating them to charity. Many non-profit organizations accept candle donations and distribute them to those in need.

Homeless shelters and women’s shelters often welcome candle contributions, as do food banks and places of worship. The candles can help provide light and warmth for those facing challenging circumstances. Partially used candles also work well for power outages when people rely on candlelight.

Before donating, make sure the wicks are trimmed and the candles are clean of debris or match wax. It’s thoughtful to wipe off any fingerprints on the glass as well. Place each candle in its own plastic bag or sleeve before boxing up your donation. This keeps them neat and protected during transport.

Contact local charities ahead of time to see if they accept used candles. Some may even list them among their current donation requests. With creativity and care, your used candles can find new life providing comfort to others.

Recycle the Wax

One eco-friendly option for disposing of old candles is to recycle the wax. Many curbside recycling programs will accept candle wax to be reprocessed. The wax can be melted down and reused to make new candles or other wax products. This gives the material a second life rather than sending it to the landfill.

Before tossing candle wax into your recycling bin, check with your local recycling center or municipality to confirm their guidelines. Some will request that you keep the wax separate from other materials. You’ll want to remove any wicks, dyes, fragrance oils, or non-wax components before recycling. The wax also needs to be cool and hardened.

If your curbside program doesn’t accept wax, try contacting local candle makers or wax refineries. Some may collect old candle wax to repurpose. This reduces waste and saves on raw material costs. Recycling candle wax takes a bit more effort than trashing it, but keeps non-biodegradable petroleum-based wax out of landfills.

Compost the Wax

Candle wax can be composted at home to avoid sending it to the landfill. Beeswax candles, in particular, are compostable. Break down candle wax into small pieces before adding it to your compost pile or bin. The smaller the pieces, the easier it will be for microorganisms in the compost to break it down.

Wax is primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen. When mixed into the compost, it will biodegrade over time. Make sure to bury the wax pieces within the compost material, rather than leaving them exposed on top. The compost environment provides the heat, moisture, air and microbes needed to completely break down wax.

Composting candle wax keeps it out of landfills. And finished compost with some candle wax can be used to nourish your garden soil.

Reuse as Fire Starters

Old candles can be recycled into handy fire starters for your fireplace, camping trip, or backup emergency kit. Simply melt down the remaining candle wax and dip cardboard, cotton balls, dryer lint or other flammable materials into the liquid wax. Allow the wax to harden around the material and you’ll have easy DIY fire starters ready for lighting.

Cardboard egg cartons, toilet paper tubes, pinecones, and wood shavings all work well for dipping in melted wax. The wax-coated materials will easily catch a spark to help start a fire in your fireplace or campground. The waxed materials are also great for lighting charcoal or wood burning grills when cooking outdoors.

Having a supply of wax-dipped fire starters can give you a head start on your next campfire or fireplace fire. It takes advantage of old candle wax that would otherwise go to waste. So before throwing out those candle nubs, consider repurposing the wax into homemade fire starters for lighting fires with ease.

Make Emergency Candles

Old candle wax can be repurposed into emergency candles. This is a great way to create quick candles that can provide light during a power outage.

Start by melting leftover candle wax either in a double boiler on the stove or in the microwave. Melt the wax down completely so it is in liquid form. Be careful and use proper precautions when melting wax to avoid burns or fires.

Once melted, pour the wax into empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes. Let the wax fully soak into the cardboard tubes. As the wax cools it will harden again and create a new candle wick.

These homemade emergency candles are easy to light and will provide much needed illumination if you lose power. They burn relatively quickly, but can be made again and again utilizing old candle wax. Just be sure to never leave burning candles unattended.

Craft Melted Crayon Candles

Old crayons can be given new life by melting them down and turning them into colorful candles. This is a fun craft project to do with kids that makes use of old art supplies and teaches children how to reuse and repurpose materials.

To make melted crayon candles, start by peeling the paper wrappers off of any old, broken crayons. Sort the crayons by color and break them into pieces so they melt faster. Place the crayon pieces in a glass bowl or metal tin and put it in a pot of simmering water to melt the wax. Stir frequently until smooth.

Meanwhile, prepare the candle vessels. Silicone muffin tins or other small molds work well for this. Make sure the molds you use have wick holes so you can insert a wick into each candle. Once the crayon wax is fully melted, carefully pour it into the molds, leaving about 1⁄4 inch of space at the top. Insert the wicks, making sure they are centered.

Let the melted crayon candles fully harden before removing from the molds. Trim the wicks to about 1⁄4 inch. Kids will love creating rainbow colored candles to decorate their rooms or give as gifts! The whole process is a fun DIY project that breathes new life into old art supplies.

Conclusion

When those candles you received as gifts start to burn low, don’t be so quick to toss them in the trash. With a little creativity, you can give those old candles new life and keep their components out of landfills.

In this article, we covered a variety of ways to reuse old candle wax and jars, from making new candles to creating fire starters. Repurposing candle wax into new candles is one of the easiest and most direct forms of reuse. Simply melt down the leftover wax and pour it into a new container or mold to make a new candle. Upcycling old jars into storage containers or vases is also a great way to get more use out of old candles.

Donating partially used candles to charity organizations, friends, or family members allows others to enjoy what’s left of the candle’s burn time. And for candles that are too far gone, the wax can still be recycled or composted instead of being tossed in the garbage. The wax can even be turned into emergency candles in case of power outages.

The takeaway is that almost every part of an old candle can be reused or recycled somehow. This reduces waste, saves money from buying new materials, and keeps additional petroleum products from being created and consumed. By getting creative with old candles instead of throwing them away, you can reduce your environmental footprint and bring new purpose to what might otherwise be trash.