Why are candles difficult to recycle?

Candles are a beloved item in many households, providing ambiance, fragrance, and warmth. However, when it comes to recycling them, candles pose a unique challenge due to their mixed materials. Traditional recycling facilities are not equipped to separate and then handle the variety of materials that make up a candle, such as the wax, wicks, labels and the outer container. The wax, which is often made from materials like paraffin, soy, or beeswax, can be tricky to separate from the other components. This difficulty arises because most recycling centers are designed to process solid materials like paper, glass, and plastics, which are much easier to break down and separate out. As a result, candles just end up in landfills rather than being recycled properly.

At Circularc, we have developed a process to properly separate and recycle the components of candles in glass vessels. We are excited to see the continued positive impact we helped to create with our new recycling method!