When you’ve finally burned through that last bit of wax and reached the end of your candle, don’t just toss the jar in the trash. There are plenty of ways to give new life to those empty vessels. With a little creativity, you can upcycle your old candle jars into something both useful and beautiful.
Here are a few ideas for how to dispose of your used candle jars:
-Use it as a vase: Fill your jar with fresh flowers or plants.
-Repurpose it as storage: Candle jars make great holders for everything from pens and pencils to makeup brushes and cotton balls.
-Make a homemade lantern: Place a lit tea light in your jar for an instant lantern. You can even decorate the outside of the jar with paint, stickers, or wrapping paper to personalize it.
- Remove the lid from the candle jar
- Scoop out any remaining wax from the jar with a spoon
- Wipe out the inside of the jar with a paper towel to remove any residual wax
- Rinse out the jar with warm water and soap to clean it thoroughly
- Allow the jar to dry completely before disposing of it in your recycling bin
How to Remove Wax from a Candle Jar – 3 Ways
What Can I Do With Old Candle Jars?
One of the great things about candles is that they come in such pretty jars! But what do you do with those jars once the candle is gone? Here are 8 creative ways to upcycle your old candle jars:
1. Make a vase. Remove the wick and any remaining wax from the jar, then rinse it out. Fill it with water and fresh flowers for a lovely vase that’s perfect for springtime.
2. Plant an herb garden. Again, remove the wick and wax, then rinse out the jar. Fill it with potting soil and plant your favorite herbs in it.
Place it on your windowsill so you can enjoy fresh herbs all year long!
3. Hold makeup brushes or pens and pencils. A clean, empty candle jar makes a great holder for makeup brushes or pens and pencils on your desk.
4. Store jewelry or small trinkets. Keep your rings, earrings, and other small jewelry safe in an empty candle jar on your dresser top or nightstand. Or use it to store other small trinkets like buttons or beads.
How Do You Throw Out Glass Candles?
When you’re finished using a glass candle, it’s important to dispose of it properly. Here are some tips on how to throw out glass candles:
1. Start by ensuring that the wick is extinguished and the wax has cooled.
2. Once the wax is cool, you can gently remove it from the glass jar. Use a blunt object, such as a chopstick or butter knife, to help loosen the wax if necessary.
3. Once all of the wax has been removed, rinse out the jar with hot water and soap to remove any residue.
4. Finally, recycle or repurpose the glass jar according to your local guidelines.

Credit: www.beautyholicsanonymous.com
Candle Recycling near Me
If you’re looking for a place to recycle your used candles, look no further than your local recycling center! Most centers accept candle jars and containers as part of their glass recycling program.
To find a recycling center near you, simply enter your zip code into the search bar on RecycleNation.com.
Once you’ve found a few options in your area, give them a call to inquire about their specific requirements for recycling candle jars.
When dropping off your used candles, be sure to remove all wicks and wax residue from the jars before placing them in the recycling bin. This will help ensure that they are properly recycled and don’t end up in the landfill.
Conclusion
If you’re like most people, you probably have a few empty candle jars hanging around your home. But did you know that there are actually several different ways to dispose of them?
One option is to simply recycle the jars.
Most candle jars are made of glass, which can be recycled over and over again. Just make sure to clean out the jar first and remove any wick remnants.
Another option is to upcycle the jar into something new.
For example, you could use it as a vase or planter. Or, if the jar is big enough, you could even turn it into a lantern! Just get creative and see what you can come up with.
Finally, if all else fails, you can always just throw the jar away in the trash. However, we would only recommend this as a last resort since it’s not very environmentally friendly.