In this post I\u2019ll share what you must do before you can recycle your candle jars. I\u2019ll also share ways that you can repurpose them at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIs It Necessary to Recycle Candle Jars?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recycling and composting substantially benefits communities and the society at large. It helps keep our land, air, and water clean, which leads to better health overall. According to the Environmental Protection Agency<\/a> (EPA), 292.4 million tons of trash was generated in the United States in 2018. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of that amount, half of it ended up in landfills. We harm the environment when we carelessly dispose of waste after a single use. Overflowing landfills damage our natural resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recycling candle jars may seem insignificant, but it can go a long way. For instance, recycled glass can be added to asphalt<\/a> that\u2019s used to pave our roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recycling and reusing materials contributes to good stewardship of our air, land, and water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We now know how important it is to recycle, but how do we go about doing it? Once a scented candle is no longer usable, there are always remnants of that candle left inside the container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A charred wick or wick base might still be stuck to the bottom of the jar. Wax may still fill the base of the container. And then there\u2019s the (sometimes) hard to remove label. It\u2019s essential to clean your candle jars before recycling them. I covered some examples of how to do that in this post<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wax itself isn\u2019t recyclable. Water is used to clean recyclables after they\u2019ve been collected and sorted. Since wax repels water, it would remain in the container, contaminating the recyclable jar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why the first step you should take towards recycling your candle jars is to make sure all traces of wax have been removed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some candle jars have labels that easily peel away<\/a>. But sometimes removing the label can be the most frustrating part of recycling or repurposing jars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t get discouraged. There are a few tricks I use to make this a more pleasurable process. After removing all the wax<\/a>, consider one of these methods for label removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soak the jar in hot soapy water:<\/strong> This softens the adhesive, allowing you to simply peel it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slather on peanut butter:<\/strong> If you find that there\u2019s stubborn adhesive that remains stuck to the jar, try slathering peanut butter over all the sticky areas of the jar. Let it sit for a while. The amount of time will vary depending on how much adhesive remains. But when you wipe off the peanut butter, you\u2019ll be amazed at how smooth and crystal clear the jar has become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mineral oil for the win:<\/strong> If the previous tips don\u2019t work, you may have luck using mineral oil. Using a cotton ball or rag, dab the label with mineral oil. Allow it to soak in; you\u2019ll notice that the label looks oil-stained. After soaking for a bit, you should be able to peel it right off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may need to use one or more of these methods to fully remove the label from your candle jar. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately not all types of glass can be recycled. And seeing the recycle symbol on a container, doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that it can be recycled at all or in your area specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different communities, states, and countries have varying rules about recycling metals and glass. But with a little research, you can acquaint yourself with the recycling rules where you live.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If curbside pickup is unavailable, some areas offer drop-off sites for you to leave your recyclables for processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your local recycling service isn\u2019t an option, some candle companies offer recycling programs in their stores or as a mail-in service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, TerraCycle accepts candle jars, diffuser oil bottles, and more if you own home fragrance products from Yankee Candle, Chesapeake Bay Candle, or WoodWick<\/a>. Gather your dry, wax-free containers, safely box them up, print out a free shipping label<\/a> and send them off to TerraCycle. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufacturing companies purchase the processed materials from TerraCycle and transform them into playground surfaces<\/a>, building materials, watering cans, flooring tiles, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that stores are opening back up in some places, you might be able to bring your candle jars directly to the store to be recycled. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The next time you\u2019re in your favorite candle store, ask them if they have a recycling program and have them explain the process to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the benefits of buying scented candles is that the containers are often so sturdy and attractive that you don\u2019t mind reusing them. If you\u2019re able to buy candles in recycled containers, even better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The important thing to note is that you don\u2019t have to feel stuck with candle jars that have trace amounts of wax in them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After following the tricks mentioned to remove excess wax from your candle jar, there are lots of ways that you can repurpose those jars at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Desk Organizer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do any kind of work from a desk at home, you know how easily pens, styluses, push pins, and other items can quickly accumulate on your desktop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Candle jars can hold all of these whatnots to help keep your space organized and your mind uncluttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art Supply Holder<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re an artist, storing supplies in old candle jars can be really convenient. These jars can hold markers, pencils, paint brushes, erasers, tubes of watercolor paint, and almost anything else you can think of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paint Brush Pots<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Candle jars without lids make some of the best pots to hold water for your paint brushes. This is probably the primary way that I reuse glass containers. Different sized jars can paint brushes of varying lengths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bathroom Organizer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Store cotton balls, Q-tips, makeup, bath salts and more in your old candle jars. Storing them this way clears up counter space and helps you locate these items more efficiently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plant Pot<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gather rocks, potting soil, and a plant or succulent to grow your own indoor garden. These containers are great for growing herbs as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DIY Candles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPreparing Your Jars for Recycling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Remove the Wax, Wick, and Label<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is Wax Recyclable?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How to Remove Labels from a Candle Jar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Can You Recycle All Types of Candle Jars?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alternative Places to Recycle Candle Jars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ways to Repurpose Candle Jars at Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n