Most candles are beautiful—until they burn out.
If you’ve ever held a half-inch of leftover wax in one hand and a soot-stained jar in the other, wondering what now?, you’re not alone. Figuring out how to dispose of candles (and all their parts) can be surprisingly unclear.
The bad news: most candles aren’t designed with end-of-life in mind. The good news: there are better ways to handle it—and even better ways to avoid the waste altogether.
Let’s walk through how to dispose of a candle step by step.
How to Dispose of Old Candles the Right Way
- Let the candle cool completely
- Remove leftover wax (freeze or hot water method)
- Clean the jar with soap and water
- Reuse or recycle the container—only if it’s safe
- Upgrade to a refillable system to skip the waste next time
For more details, read on below.
1. First, Let the Candle Fully Cool
No matter what kind of candle you’re dealing with—glass, ceramic, or tin—wait until the wax and container are fully cooled before handling. This keeps things safe and makes cleanup easier.
2. Remove the Leftover Wax
If there’s still wax left in the bottom of the jar, here’s how to get it out:
- Freezer Method: Place the jar in the freezer for a few hours. The wax should shrink and pop out easily.
- Hot Water Method: Pour hot (not boiling) water into the jar. The wax will melt, float to the top, and harden as it cools so you can lift it out.
- No-Mess Tip: Avoid pouring wax down the drain—it can solidify in pipes and cause clogs.
Once removed, toss wax in the trash unless you’re planning to reuse or recycle it (more on that in a sec).
3. Clean the Jar or Vessel
Use warm water and mild soap to wipe out any soot or fragrance residue. Most glass candle jars and ceramic vessels can be reused or recycled once clean.
- Recycling Tip: If your candle came in a glass jar, check your local recycling rules. Many areas accept clean glass jars with metal wick tabs removed.
- Reuse Tip: Old candle jars make great storage for cotton rounds, spices, pens, or small plants.
Not sure how to dispose of candle jars that feel too pretty to toss? That’s your sign to repurpose.
4. Know When Not to Reuse
Some lower-quality candle jars—especially thin glass or ones with deep soot damage—can crack or shatter if reused. If the vessel feels unsafe, it’s best to clean it out and recycle what you can.
5. Skip the Waste Next Time
If you’re tired of cleaning out jars, wondering how to dispose of candles in glass jars, or feeling guilty every time you toss one in the trash, there’s a better way: skip the single-use setup altogether.
At ReCandle Co., we designed our entire system to eliminate the “what do I do with this now?” moment.
Our refillable candle system includes:
- A handmade ceramic vessel that’s built to last (heat-safe up to 2,000ºF)
- Soy wax refills that pop in and out cleanly—no scraping or melting required
- 100% recyclable packaging
- A zero waste candle refill model that makes disposal basically...a non-issue
Even better? You can subscribe and have new scents delivered regularly—so you always have a fresh candle, and never a messy leftover.