Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester have all installed candle wax recycling points, where businesses, churches and individuals can deposit used candles.

The discarded candles will then be collected by Exeter-based The Recycled Candle Company, which produces hand poured luxury candles using only recycled wax.

Part of a circular trading model, designed to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint, this new initiative will help the UK’s only wax recycling business keep 40 tonnes of candle wax from ending up in landfill.  

Alexa Blackmore, from Brimsmore Gardens, explains: “We have been selling The Recycled Candle Company’s products for many years, so are really pleased to get this recycling scheme up and running.

"This circular trading model is a great opportunity for businesses to join forces and reduce their impact on the environment, while helping consumers to reduce their landfill waste.

"We have seen great success with other schemes, such as sending plant trays back to suppliers to reuse and collecting empty compost bags to use in the garden centres, so we are confident that this will be another well received offering for the local community.” 

Any candle that is not in a glass container can be recycled at Brimsmore Gardens, Castle Gardens and Poundbury Gardens, seven days a week.

The Recycled Candle Company can remove other elements, such as wicks and tea light metal, once they have gathered them from the various collection points.