Thanks to our new collaboration with The Recycled Candle Company, we now offer designated collection points at various Hospiscare shops for dropping off used candles, tealights, and other old wax for recycling.
The candle recycling points are located at our Fore Street shop in Exeter, our Warehouse shop in Marsh Barton, Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Okehampton, and Cullompton. You can also drop off items for recycling at our main Exeter base – Searle House in the Wonford area of Exeter.
The Recycled Candle Company, founded in Ottery St Mary in 2015, is an environmentally friendly business that uses old wax to make into beautiful new candles, saving around 400 tons of wax going into landfill annually. Although The Recycled Candle Company recently relocated to Chorley, its roots remain in Devon, with founders Richard Hills-Ingyon and Sargon Latchin regularly returning to the county to pick up any donations and catch up with supporters.
Richard explained: “While some people post used candles to us, collection points are a more practical solution for many. And the more the merrier! It’s really exciting to be able to add seven new drop offs in Devon and we’re really grateful to Hospiscare for this opportunity. It’s also a great excuse to look round the shops and make a purchase or donation in support of this fabulous, inspiring charity.”
Helen Hutter, our Head of Retail, added: “We’re really excited to be working with the Recycled Candle Company on this initiative as we are committed to reducing waste and promoting recycling and reusing wherever possible. By providing drop-off points in our shops, we’re making it convenient for people to recycle their used candles in our communities, cutting down on unnecessary waste and encouraging recycling.”
The ‘collection collaboration’ came about after the 2022 ‘Light Up a Life’ memorial event – an annual celebration of the lives of lost loved ones. Last year, the leftover candle stubs from the service at Exeter Cathedral were donated to The Recycled Candle Company – inspiring the idea to provide permanent collection points.
This year’s Light Up a Life events are being held throughout December in Exeter, Honiton and Cullompton, and include hand-picked readings, poems, music, carols and will once again be lit by soft candlelight.
Visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/light-up-a-life/ to find out more.
