Recycling wax crayons typically involves repurposing them through a melting and remolding process at home or through specific collection programs, rather than traditional curbside recycling.
Here's a common method for repurposing wax crayons, based on the steps provided:
Repurposing Crayons Through Melting
Turning old crayon stubs into new, usable crayons or fun shapes is a popular and effective way to "recycle" them. This process requires a few simple steps and materials.
The Process:
- Prepare the Crayons:
- First, you must remove the wrappers from the crayons. These wrappers are typically made of paper and can be recycled with paper and cardboard through your usual recycling stream.
- Break the unwrapped crayons into smaller pieces if necessary.
- Sort by Color:
- For best results and vibrant new colors, sort the crayon pieces by color. You can mix similar shades or keep individual colors separate.
- Melt the Wax:
- Place the sorted colors into oven-safe containers. Muffin tins or silicone molds placed on a baking sheet work well.
- Pop them in a 250- to 300-degree Fahrenheit oven. Keep a close eye on them; they should melt completely relatively quickly.
- Pour into Molds:
- Once they are fully melted, carefully remove the containers from the oven.
- Simply pour the melted wax into tempered molds. Silicone molds in fun shapes are ideal for this step.
- Harden:
- Allow the wax to cool completely and harden. This might take a few hours at room temperature or can be sped up by placing the molds in the refrigerator.
- Once hard, pop the new crayons out of the molds!
This method transforms old, broken crayons into fresh, exciting art supplies, reducing waste and giving them a new life.
Are There Collection Programs?
While not traditional recycling, some organizations and programs collect old crayons for repurposing, often donating the newly created crayons to schools, hospitals, or shelters. Research local or national initiatives like The Crayon Initiative or Crazy Crayons to see if there's a collection point near you.
By melting and remolding or participating in a collection program, you can effectively give old wax crayons a second chance.
